Stack-to-pot ratio (SPR)
Also: SPR, stack to pot ratio
The effective stack divided by the pot on the flop. SPR tells you how committed you are: a low SPR means one bet gets the money in, a high SPR means there is room to manoeuvre.
With an SPR of 1 or 2, top pair is normally worth stacking off with; with an SPR of 10 or more, you need a much stronger hand to get all-in comfortably, and speculative hands gain value. Skilled players manipulate SPR pre-flop — raising bigger with hands that want a low SPR (big pairs) and smaller with hands that prefer a high one (suited connectors).
Related terms
Full glossaryFrequently asked questions
What does SPR mean in poker?
Stack-to-pot ratio — the effective stack divided by the size of the pot, normally measured on the flop. It describes how many bets are left to be made rather than how many chips.
How do you calculate SPR?
Divide the effective stack — the smaller of the two remaining stacks — by the current pot. A pot of 10 with 30 behind is an SPR of 3.
What is a low SPR and why does it matter?
Roughly 3 or below. At that depth only about one pot-sized bet and a shove remain, so strong one-pair hands are usually worth committing, because an opponent has too little betting room to represent a better hand convincingly.
Can you control SPR?
Yes, and that is its main use. SPR is fixed by the pre-flop action, so every raise and call size is also a decision about how much room there will be after the flop. Big pairs generally benefit from a lower SPR, speculative hands from a higher one.