2 · MAKE YOUR FIRST DECISIONS · LESSON 10 OF 29 · 5 min
Stacks and bet sizes
A 100-big-blind stack is 200 chips at a 1/2 table. The same hand can play differently with 20 big blinds because an all-in arrives sooner. Bet sizes also change the price opponents receive and the size of later decisions.
Calling 10 chips with 200 behind leaves many possible turn and river choices. Calling 10 with only 12 behind is close to committing your stack.
Measure stacks in big blinds, then size the pot
Chips alone hide how deep a game is. At 1/2 blinds, 40 chips are 20 big blinds and 200 chips are 100 big blinds. The effective stack is the most either of two players can win from the other. If you have 200 chips and your opponent has 40, only 40 chips from each can be contested between you in the main pot. A third player can create a side pot, but that does not deepen the short player's decision.
At 20 big blinds, an open to 6 already puts 15% of a 40-chip stack in the pot. Re-raising to 18 leaves 22 behind and can create an awkward next decision. A player may instead consider an all-in or a call, depending on the hand, position, and opponents. At 100 big blinds, the same 18-chip re-raise leaves much more room to play later streets.
Bet size also offers a price. Betting 6 into 12 asks an opponent to call 6 to contest 24 total, a 25% immediate break-even share. A larger bet asks for more equity but risks more of your stack. There is no universal 'correct' size without a goal: value from worse hands, protection, or a credible bluff.
Convert every visible stack to big blinds before playing the prepared 20-big-blind spot. Notice how much would remain after a normal re-raise.
The first trainer release uses 100-big-blind starting stacks and no rake. Do not carry its exact chart into every real table.
MAKE THE CALL
At 1/2 blinds, how many chips are 100 big blinds?
Start with a prepared decision, then play the rest of the hand with practice chips. Turn on guidance to see the trainer's reasoning.