Bubble factor
A number that expresses how much more losing a pot costs you than winning it gains you, in tournament equity terms. A bubble factor of 1 means chips are worth their face value (as in a cash game); on the bubble or at a final table it can be 2 or higher, meaning you need far better than even odds to call an all-in.
Frequently asked questions
What is bubble factor in poker?
A number describing how expensive risk is in a given tournament spot — the ratio between what losing a pot costs you in prize equity and what winning it gains. A bubble factor of 1 is a cash game, where chips are simply money.
How do you use it?
It converts directly into how much equity a call needs. A bubble factor of 1.5 means roughly 60% equity is required where a cash game needs 50%; higher factors push the requirement towards folding hands that are clear favourites.
When does bubble factor get high?
Near the money bubble, at final-table pay jumps, and in satellites — where every seat pays identically and the factor against another large stack can get extreme, making almost any call wrong. It is highest between two big stacks and lowest against a player who is already all in.