Tournaments
M-ratio in poker
Definition
Your stack divided by the total cost of one orbit (blinds plus antes), showing how many rounds you can survive without playing a hand.
M = stack / (small blind + big blind + antes). An M of 10 means you can last 10 orbits of folding. Harrington's zones suggest that M below 6 calls for push-or-fold play and M above 20 is comfortable.
M-ratio is useful in tournaments with antes, where big blinds alone understate the pressure.
Example
At 100/200 with a 25 ante and nine players, an orbit costs 100 + 200 + 225 = 525, so a 5,250 stack has an M of 10.
Related terms
- Short stackA stack that is small compared with the blinds, usually below 15 to 20 big blinds.
- AnteA small forced bet that every player posts into the pot before the cards are dealt.
- Push or foldA strategy for short stacks in which every hand is either shoved all-in or folded, with no calls or small raises.