SPR in Poker: Stack-to-Pot Ratio Explained
By the PokerClimb team · Reviewed by Agustin Policano · Updated · 7 min read
SPR (stack-to-pot ratio) is the effective stack divided by the pot on the flop. A 97.5bb stack in a 5.5bb pot is an SPR of about 18. Low SPR (under 3) means top pair is usually happy to get all in; high SPR (over 10) means you need a much stronger hand to play for stacks.
Top pair, top kicker is a monster in some pots and a hand you should be careful with in others. The difference is rarely the cards. It is how much money is behind compared to what is already in the middle, and SPR puts that into one number.
How to calculate SPR
Use the effective stack, the smaller of the two stacks, and measure it after the preflop betting. Example: the button opens to 2.5bb with 100bb stacks, the small blind folds and the big blind calls. The pot is 2.5 + 2.5 + 0.5 = 5.5bb and each player has 97.5bb behind. SPR = 97.5 ÷ 5.5 ≈ 17.7.
Typical SPRs by pot type
| Pot type | Example | Pot on flop | SPR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-raised, blind defends | BTN 2.4bb, BB calls | 5.3bb | about 18 |
| Single-raised, in-position call | CO 2.2bb, BTN calls | 5.9bb | about 17 |
| 3-bet pot, in position | CO 2.2, BTN 7.5, CO calls | 16.5bb | about 5.6 |
| 3-bet pot, from the blinds | BTN 2.4, BB 13, BTN calls | 26.5bb | about 3.3 |
| 4-bet pot | CO 2.2, BTN 7.5, CO 21.5, BTN calls | 44.5bb | about 1.8 |
Each extra raise before the flop cuts SPR by a factor of two to four. That is why play in 3-bet and 4-bet pots feels so different from single-raised pots.
SPR and commitment
SPR tells you, before you act on the flop, how many hands are strong enough to go all in. A pot-sized bet on each of three streets grows the pot so fast that an SPR of about 13 is all it takes to get the stacks in by the river.
| SPR | What it means | Hands that can usually stack off |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 | Committed after one or two bets | Top pair or better, strong draws |
| 3 to 6 | A couple of streets of betting | Strong top pair, overpairs, two pair+ |
| 6 to 12 | Three streets of betting | Two pair, sets and better; careful with one pair |
| Over 12 | Deep, lots of play left | Sets, straights and better |
Which hands like high and low SPR
- Low SPR favors big pairs and top-pair hands. AK, AQ and overpairs flop one pair often, and with little money behind, one pair is often enough to get it in.
- High SPR favors hands that make the nuts. Small pairs, suited connectors and suited aces make sets, straights and flushes, and need deep stacks to get paid when they do.
This is also why over-limping with speculative hands only works in deep games: those hands need the high SPR to profit.
SPR and set mining
You flop a set or better with a pocket pair about 11.8% of the time, roughly 1 in 8.5. Calling a raise just to hit a set only works if you win enough when you do. A common rule of thumb is that the effective stacks should be at least 15 to 20 times the amount you call. That is an implied odds calculation, and SPR is the quick way to see whether those stacks are actually there.
Frequently asked questions
What is SPR in poker?
SPR stands for stack-to-pot ratio: the effective stack divided by the size of the pot when the flop is dealt. It tells you how many pot-sized bets are left to play, and so how committed you are to the pot.
What is a good SPR?
No SPR is good or bad by itself; it changes which hands are strong enough to stack off. With a low SPR (under about 3), top pair is often happy to get all in. With a high SPR (above about 10), you usually want two pair or better to play for stacks.
Do you use the effective stack for SPR?
Yes. The effective stack is the smaller of the stacks between you and your opponent, because that is the most either of you can win or lose in the hand.
Why is SPR lower in 3-bet pots?
More money goes in before the flop, so the pot is bigger and the stacks behind are smaller. At 100bb, a typical single-raised pot has an SPR around 16 to 18, while a 3-bet pot is around 3 to 6.
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