Tournament orbit cost: small blind + big blind + antes × number of players, estimate how many orbits you can survive and M value. Includes short-stack strategy and FAQ.
Core Formula Orbit cost ≈ antes + small blind + big blind in BB. In MTTs, passive blind loss compresses the M value, forcing wider steals or earlier push-fold. In high-ante structures, the orbit cost's share of the stack increases, and when ICM is layered in, the opportunity cost of "not playing" becomes more significant. Use the calculator on this page to instantly compute the breakeven win rate, then cross-reference the numbers with opponent ranges, position, and turn/river plans – avoid just memorizing formulas without being able to apply them at the table. Common Misconceptions Ignoring antes in deep stacks leads to inflated M values; only counting blinds and not antes. Not updating the orbit cost before the money bubble. Misapplying orbit-cost in cash games. Also, don't treat Solver frequencies as an inviolable rule that eliminates the need to verify pot odds; when information is incomplete, ICM and SPR remain the first principles of tournament poker. Learning Suggestions At the start, note "X bb per orbit"; synchronize with m-ratio and break-even-steal. Recalculate steal frequency when antes double. In reviews, ask "How many BB did I lose just from the blinds?" – that drives the rationality of widening. Each week, pick five real hand histories, recalculate them with the same tool, and revisit the glossary to review concepts like pot odds, ICM, SPR, etc., which will auto-link. Cross-referencing with push-fold and MDF helps build a complete preflop and postflop math framework faster.
Scenario：Chips 25,000, 8-handed table ante 25.
Cost per hand = 100 + 200 + 25 × 8 = 500 2. Per orbit ≈ 500×8 = 4,000 3. Blinds break after about 6.25 orbits
Conclusion：Already in orange/red zone, need to actively steal blinds or push.
Scenario：
Conclusion：In the early stages, you can still play according to strategy, without having to push/fold immediately.
Scenario：Table A has high ante, Table B has low ante.
Choose tables with low cost to extend survival. 3. Tool example step: orbit-cost
Or choose a higher-cost table to grab a bigger pot.
Conclusion：Changing tables is one of the MTT techniques; cost affects steal frequency.