Covering stack
A stack that covers yours has at least as many chips, so losing an all-in against it knocks you out.
Last updated
- What it means
- You cover a player when your stack is bigger than theirs: they can only win their own stack from you. A player who covers you can bust you.
- How it is calculated
- Before any all-in near the money, compare stacks. Against a stack that covers you, losing means busting, so ICM asks for much more equity. Against a stack you cover, losing only costs chips.
- Worked example
- On a bubble with 6 left and 5 paid, a 19bb big blind facing a 30bb button shove is covered: it needs about 72% equity to call under ICM, against 46% in chips. The 30bb button calling an 11bb shove covers the shover and needs only 51%, against 45% in chips.
- Why it matters
- Covering stacks shove and call wider on the bubble, and the stacks they cover have to tighten up. Knowing who covers whom is most of bubble play.
Try it: Push/fold calculator
Lessons that teach it: The same all-in risks different amounts · lessons other than the free one need an invite
See also: ICM, Risk premium, Chip leader