Too Deep to Jam, Too Short to Relax
The 20–30 big blind stack is the most misunderstood stack size in tournament poker. It’s the point where players feel pressured but still have options—and that combination creates more mistakes than almost any other depth.
Some players jam too much. Others raise too small and bleed chips. The worst leaks happen when players fail to understand what this stack is actually designed to do.
Raise vs Jam: The Decision That Defines the Stack
At 20–30bb, jamming every playable hand is lazy. But raising without a plan is worse. This stack thrives on selective aggression, not autopilot shoves.
Open-jamming removes postflop mistakes but also removes fold equity against strong ranges. Raising, on the other hand, allows:
- pressure on blinds
- flexibility against 3-bets
- the ability to fold when ranges collide
The mistake isn’t choosing raise or jam—it’s choosing without considering position, opponent tendencies, and stack distribution behind.
Pressure Without Commitment: The Real Weapon
This stack size is uniquely powerful because it can apply pressure without risking tournament life. A standard raise, 2-2.3bb, at 25bb forces opponents to:
- defend wide and play postflop poorly
- overfold and surrender blinds
- shove too light in frustration
That’s where EV is created. The goal isn’t to win the pot immediately. It’s to create spots where opponents are uncomfortable long before chips are committed.
Avoiding Blind Bleed Without Panic
The fear of blind bleed causes more damage than the blinds themselves. Players start opening hands they shouldn’t, calling raises they can’t defend, and jamming just to “stay alive.”
In reality, 20–30bb stacks can withstand several orbits without action. Blind pressure exists, but it’s not an emergency. Panic turns a workable stack into a shove-or-fold prison far faster than patience ever would.
Why This Stack Gets Misplayed So Often
This depth sits at the intersection of:
- tournament pressure
- increasing antes
- rising emotional stress
Players feel urgency without clarity. They sense danger without understanding leverage. That’s why decisions swing wildly between hyper-aggression and passive bleed.
How Strong Tournament Players Handle 20–30bb
Winning players:
- open aggressively from late position
- tighten early position ranges
- avoid calling off stacks without premium equity
- preserve fold equity for later streets
They treat the stack as a weapon, not a countdown timer.
Tournament Takeaway
The 20–30bb stack isn’t weak—it’s misunderstood. Misplayed, it shrinks into desperation. Played correctly, it applies relentless pressure while keeping tournament life intact. The difference isn’t bravery. It’s structure, discipline, and knowing when chips should—and shouldn’t—go in the middle.
Final Thought
Medium stacks are where good players separate from hopeful ones. In cash, they reward patience. In tournaments, they reward controlled aggression. Mismanage them, and all of a sudden, you are in desperation mode and don’t know how you got there. Play them well, and they become one of the most profitable spots at the table.