Starting Stack Calculator
Calculate optimal starting chip stacks for poker tournaments and home games based on blind structure and game type.
15-20 min levels
Players at start
Initial big blind amount
Auto-calculated (BB ÷ 2)
Starting Stack
5,000
100 big blinds
Total Chips in Play
45,000
For 9 players
Starting M-Ratio
66.7
At 25/50 blinds
M-Ratio Through Levels
* Assumes standard blind progression with antes starting at level 3
Suggested Chip Breakdown
Try These Examples
Quick-start with common scenarios
How Many Chips Should Players Start With?
Starting stack for poker tournaments depends on structure: Deep stack (150-200 BBs) for 3+ hour events, Standard (100 BBs) for regular tournaments, Turbo (50-75 BBs) for faster play, Hyper-turbo (25-50 BBs) for quick games. Multiply big blind by desired BB count for chip amount. Example: 100 BB at 50/100 blinds = 10,000 chips.
Key Facts About Starting Stacks
- Standard tournament: 100 big blinds starting stack
- Deep stack: 150-200 big blinds for more play
- Turbo: 50-75 big blinds with fast blind increases
- Home games: 50-100 BB recommended for 3-4 hours
- Cash games: 100 BB standard, 200 BB deep stack
- More starting chips = more post-flop play
- Fewer chips = more preflop all-in situations
- Consider blind structure when setting stack
Starting Stack by Game Type
Standard Tournament
100 BB
15-20 min levels
Deep Stack
200 BB
20-30 min levels
Turbo
75 BB
10 min levels
Hyper-Turbo
50 BB
3-5 min levels
Home Game
75 BB
3-4 hour event
Cash Game
100 BB
Standard buy-in
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chips should each player start with?
For tournaments, 100 big blinds is standard. With blinds starting at 25/50, that's 5,000 chips. For home games lasting 3-4 hours, 50-100 big blinds works well. Deep stack events use 150-200 big blinds for maximum post-flop play.
What starting stack is best for home games?
For a 3-4 hour home game, give players 50-100 big blinds. If blinds start at 25/50, that's 2,500-5,000 chips. This allows enough play while ensuring the tournament finishes in a reasonable time. Consider adding antes after a few levels.
How do starting stacks affect gameplay?
More chips (150+ BBs) means more post-flop play, set-mining value, and skill edge. Fewer chips (50 BBs or less) increases variance, preflop all-ins, and luck factor. Deep stacks favor skilled players; short stacks equalize skill differences.
What's the difference between turbo and regular?
Regular tournaments start with 100+ BB and increase blinds every 15-20 minutes. Turbo events use 50-75 BB with 10-minute levels. Hyper-turbo uses 25-50 BB with 3-5 minute levels. Faster structures increase variance.
Should cash games have different starting stacks?
Cash games typically have 100 BB buy-in min/max (e.g., $100-$300 at $1/$2). Some games allow 200 BB deep stack. Unlike tournaments, you can rebuy, so starting stack matters less. Deeper stacks increase implied odds and skill edge.