Reviewed by: David Chen, Professional Poker Analyst & Strategy Consultant
Master your tournament strategy with our professional poker blinds calculator. Quickly determine your stack depth in big blinds and calculate your M-ratio to know exactly when to push, fold, or stay patient.
Poker Blinds Calculator
Enter values and click Calculate to see results.
poker blinds calculator Formula
Big Blinds (BBs) = Stack ÷ Big Blind
M-Ratio = Stack ÷ (SB + BB + [Ante × Players])
Source: PokerStrategy.com – The M-Zone System
Variables:
- Chip Stack: The total amount of chips you currently hold.
- Big Blind: The mandatory large bet required per round.
- Small Blind: Usually half of the big blind.
- Ante: A small forced bet contributed by every player at the table.
- Players: The current number of players at your table (needed for total ante calculation).
Related Calculators
What is a Poker Blinds Calculator?
A poker blinds calculator is an essential tool for tournament players to measure their current “Effective Stack.” In poker tournaments, the absolute number of chips is less important than their value relative to the blinds. As blinds increase, your stack’s purchasing power decreases.
By calculating your stack in terms of Big Blinds and the M-Ratio (invented by Paul Magriel and popularized by Dan Harrington), you can determine which “Zone” you are in. This dictates whether you should play tight, look for a double-up, or go “all-in” to survive.
How to Calculate Poker Blinds (Example)
- Identify your stack: 10,000 chips.
- Identify current level: 200/400 blinds with a 50 ante.
- Count players: 9 players.
- Calculate BBs: 10,000 ÷ 400 = 25 Big Blinds.
- Calculate Cost per Orbit (CPO): 200 + 400 + (50 × 9) = 1,050.
- Calculate M-Ratio: 10,000 ÷ 1,050 = 9.52.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a “good” number of big blinds? Generally, 40+ BBs is considered deep, 20-40 is medium, and below 15 is the “danger zone” where your options become limited.
What does the M-Ratio tell me? The M-ratio tells you how many “orbits” you can survive without playing a hand. An M below 5 typically requires an aggressive shove-or-fold strategy.
Why include antes in the calculation? In the later stages of tournaments, antes can account for nearly half of the total chips in the pot, significantly affecting your stack’s longevity.
How often should I use this calculator? You should re-calculate your stack depth every time the blind levels increase or after winning/losing a significant pot.