Shortstack-Strategy: Sklansky-Chubukov numbers and preflop pushes
Introduction
In this article:
- You will learn what the Sklansky-Chubukov push is
- Two charts and modified ranges.
The original idea behind the Shortstack Strategy (SSS) was to make it possible for beginners to make some profit, even without a lot of knowledge or poker experience.
This was why the first version of SSS was very simple, making it possible to quickly learn the theory and -especially on the lower limits- exploit your opponents weaknesses and loose play. Playing with less than 40 BB has become very popular for poker players ranging from beginners to experienced and even amongst some pro's. On the mid-stakes, there are many players who make a solid profit, with a lot less variance compared to players who play with a big stack. Yet the original Shortstack Strategy isn't sufficient for staying successful on these limits and we therefore need to adapt and expand our strategy.
In this article we will introduce one of the most important concepts for being successful beyond the lower limits; The Sklansky-Chubukov push.
We will start by defining the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers and pushes and will also explain the concept behind them as well as their basic characteristics.
Next, we will show you which hands can be pushed profitably, based on the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers.
We'll conclude by showing you some more hands which can be pushed under normal circumstances. Next to that we'll explain what the criteria are needed to determine whether a hand is eligible for a direct push or a normal raise.
The definition and original idea of the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers were invented by poker author David Sklansky and were first introduced in „No Limit Hold’em in Theory and Practice“ by David
Sklansky and Ed
Miller.
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Definition and characteristics of the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers
Lets assume we're on a 1$/2$ table and are holding KK on the small blind. All players sitting in front of us folded and we accidentally show our hand. The big blind has seen our cards and can now play accordingly. A normal raise isn't an option any more since our opponent can use his knowledge of our cards for the remainder of this hand.
The question whether a push or a fold is the better play remains though. The answer mainly depends on the size of our stack. When we have a big stack, we should fold. This is because we would lose a lot of money when our opponent would have a better hand. With a small stack it is better to push all in.
For every hand, the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers indicate up till what stack size it is profitable to push (always from the small blind when all opponents have folded and the big blind knows our hand).
For KK the border is quite high (being 954$ on NL200). This means a push with KK is the best play here, even if we have a stack of more than 400BB.
It is important to remember there isn't any restriction to these numbers (in cash games) because the calculation of the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers are made assuming our oponnent is making a perfect play. Because our oponnents make mistakes, we will profit even more.
Of course there are many situations where a normal raise would be preferable over a direct push. However, there are many situations where a "Sklansky-Chubukov push" is the best choice. More concrete examples and advices will be given in this article.
A chart of all Sklansky-Chubukov numbers can be found here:
http://www2.decf.berkeley.edu/~chubukov/rankings.html
(The numbers are based on NL200. To get the correct value for the BB every number should be divided by 2)
Obviously high pocket pairs and aces with a good kickers have a high S-C number. Smaller pairs and hands with an ace or king with a lower kicker get valued reasonably high as well. Suited
connectors are ranked a lot lower in the list, but are clearly ranked above worthless hands like 92o. The showdown value is the distinguishing factor.
For example T3o has a higher Sklansky-Chubukov number (5.48) than 54s (4.85).
For other positions then the small blind, no S-C numbers have been defined. The rule of thumb to calculate the S-C number on other positions is: Divide the number through the amount of players that have to act behind you. This means nothing changes on the small blind. On the button you would have to divide by 2. On the cut-off by 3, etc.
Sklansky-Chubukov pushing chart
In the previous chapters we have defined and explained the basic concepts of the Sklansky-Chubukov numbers. In this chapter we will focus on how this knowledge canbe used to improve your own game.
Using the list with Sklansky-Chubukov numbers and the mentioned rule of thumb, will enable you to decide if a push is profitable from any position, with any stack. The corresponding range to do so, is called the "Sklansky-Chubukov range".
In the next chart you will find the S-C ranges for 10, 15, 20 and 25 BB stacks from the SB, button and CO. You can also print the chart as a PDF-document:
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Sklansky-Chubukov ranges
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No matter how your opponent plays, for every hand mentioned in this chart, it is better to open push than it is to fold.
Of course it might be better to make a normal raise instead of a push. Pushes are especially profitable with hands that don't have a high playability post flop. These include hands like middle pairs and combinations with a high and a low card, like 55, A2o and K7o. With hands that are strong or have a good playability post flop, you should be more inclined to make a normal raise (unless your stack is 10BB or lower).
This is how you should use the chart:
- Hands that don't have a high post flop playability should be pushed directly
- With strong hands and hands with a high playability, you should make a normal raise (for example KK and JTs)
- If everyone folds to you, all hands mentioned in the chart shouldn't be folded under any circumstances. When in doubt what to do, push.
Example 1:
We have 55 on the button and everyone folds to us. Our stack is 15BB. What is the best way to play this hand?
All in! The hand is mentioned in the chart, so a fold isn't an option. A normal raise would be a bad play, since 55 is a hard hand to play, unless you play for set value. This isn't an option playing as a shortstack though, since you don't have the implied odds.
Example 2:
Everyone folds to us and we're sitting on CO. We have JJ and a 20BB stack. What to do?
Raise to around 3BB! Our hand is very strong and our stack is big enough. A normal raise will make us a higher profit on average then a push would. A fold would obviously be the worst option.
Example 3:
UTG limps and all other players fold. We are on the button and have A8o with a 15BB stack. What to do next?
Fold! This article and the chart can only be used in situations in which all players in front of you have folded. A8o is too weak of a hand to be played in this situation.
Recommendations for pushing ranges
All hands in the previous charts can be pushed profitably, no matter what opponent you're facing. This makes the application of the chart very simple. When you would only play the hands listed though, you would lose a lot of value with hands that are also playable, but not mentioned.
Because of this, the following chart displays more hands. The hands included all have high S-C numbers, meaning they can be played profitably against most oponnents.
This chart is also available for printing as a PDF-document: Sklansky-Chubukov ranges
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Modified ranges
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This chart only consists of pairs and high cards. Suited connectors are often playable too, especially on the small blind and button. These kinds of hands have a high playability and should therefore be raised to about 3BB (assuming a 10BB stack or more). The correct way to play these kinds of hands post flop won't be addressed in this article.
Premium hands obviously shouldn't be pushed directly, but raised normally.
When pushing the weakest hand mentioned in the chart, you should normally be on the safe side. In case one of the remaining players is extremely loose, you should fold these weakest hands. They lose a lot of value versus such players, while strong hands will profit a lot from the bad plays of these kinds of opponents.
This is how you should use the chart:
- Normally all hands mentioned in the chart should be played
- The best hands should usually be raised by around 2,5-4BB.
- When holding hands with a bad playability, it is best to push directly
- When you're uncertain whether you should make a normal raise or a push, it is always better to go all in directly.
- If a extremely loose player is sitting behind you, you should fold the weakest hands.
- Suited connectors aren't mentioned on the chart, but can usually be played from the button or small blind. Normally these hand shouldn't be pushed, but should simply be raised with about 3BB.
- When your stack size doesn't correspond with the mentioned stack sizes, you should use the nearest higher amount.
Example 1:
We are sitting in the small blind and everyone folds to us. We have A2o with a stack of 12BB. How should we play this hand?
All in! 12 BB is closest under 15BB and A2o is mentioned in the chart under this amount. Because of the bad playability of this hand, a direct push is better then a normal raise.
Example 2:
We get A7o on the button. Our stack is 15BB and the big blind is an extremely loose aggressive player. Everyone fold to us. Do we play this hand even with such a loose BB?
No! A7o is at the bottom of the range of hands normally played. Because of the loose BB, a push isn't profitable any more. A raise to 3BB is also a very questionable move, since the playability is very bad and we would have to fold to a reraise of the BB, which will happen quite often against these kinds of oponnents.
Example 3:
We have 44 on the button with a 15BB stack. Everyone folds to us. The BB is very loose. Can this hand be played?
Yes! 44 is far too strong of a hand to be folded, no matter against what kind of opponent. This is also shown by the fact 44 is mentioned in the first chart of this article. Therefore a push is profitable against any opponent we're playing.
Example 4:
We have 98s on the button with a stack of 19BB. Everyone folds to us. What next?
Raise to around 3BB! The playability of this hand is fine and we have position on the flop. Although an all in is profitable too, it will clearly give less profit then a standard raise.
Conclusion
A lot of shortstack players would never push preflop directly. They rebuy when their stack nears 10BB and always make standard raises. Playing like this will have a positive expected value, but doesn't utilize the full strengths of a shortstack.
Many hands have a bad playability on the flop. Especially when sitting on the SB, when you will be playing out of position on the flop. This is even the case on the button with hands like A6o and 22. By pushing preflop, you are can avoid a lot of unprofitable situations.
Big stacks have (except on the SB) no possibility to use a similar strategy against us. The reason for this is that as long as there is another big stack in the hand, a preflop push would be a bad mistake with a large stack. Furthermore, our opponents have to fold hands which we can push profitably.
Especially in the small blind the expected profit using the strategy described in this article will be a lot higher. Hands like K7o are unprofitable when doing a normal raise against almost any oponnent. By pushing directly these kinds of hands all of a sudden strongly contribute to your total profit.
To maximize the advantage of preflop pushes, we advice to stop rebuying on the higher limits. Opportunities to push will thereby come across more often. Another advantage is, that when you double up your 10BB stack, you dont have to change tables.