Gambling terms, explained straight

Poker

Stack to pot ratio

Stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) measures how big the effective stack is compared to the pot, helping players judge how committed they are after the flop.

Formula
SPR = effective stack / pot size1
Low SPR
Small stack relative to pot; player is closer to being committed1
High SPR
More room to manoeuvre; less immediate commitment pressure1

Key points

  • SPR stands for stack-to-pot ratio, a measure of effective stack depth relative to the pot size.1
  • A low SPR means the remaining stack is small compared to the pot, increasing commitment pressure.1
  • A high SPR gives more flexibility postflop, as the stack is large relative to the pot.1

Common questions

What is spr in poker?

SPR stands for stack-to-pot ratio. It is the effective stack size divided by the current pot size, and it helps players decide how committed they are to a hand postflop.1

Where this term is used

Poker Pot odds The ratio of the current pot size to the cost of a contemplated call. Poker Deep stack A large effective stack relative to the blinds, often over 100 big blinds. Poker Pot odds poker The mathematical relationship between pot size and call cost used to decide whether to continue. Poker Pot odds vs equity Comparing the pot odds offered to a hand's chance of winning to determine profitability. Poker Pot odds vs implied odds Pot odds consider only current pot size; implied odds also account for future bets. Poker Texas Hold'em hands The ranking of hand strengths used in Texas hold'em poker.

Sources

  1. Pot odds - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Defines SPR as stack-to-pot ratio, gives the formula, and explains low vs high SPR implications.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.