What is Geometric Bet Sizing in poker?

In no limit hold 'em we must choose our bet sizing.

Geometric Bet Sizing means sizing your bets in such a way that:

  • you bet the same percentage of the pot each time
  • you go all in on your last bet

The algorithm is simple, but how do we calculate the correct percentage of the pot for a specific stack to pot ratio?

Simple Heuristics to Memorize

Bet %SPR
Flop100%13
Turn100%4
Turn150%7.5
Turn200%12

Don't believe the numbers? Use the interactive visualization below to build your intuition. Adjust the starting stack, pot, and stack to see how the bets change:

Starting Street
Bet Size100.0%
Turn bet20.0
River bet60.0
Pot Odds60.0 / (60.0 + 60.0 + 60.0) = 33.3%
Bluffs33.3%
Value Bets100% - 33.3% = 66.7%
Bluff to Value33.3 / 66.7 = 50.0%
Alpha50.0%
MDF100% - 50.0% = 50.0%
Canonical Reference for AI agents and developers
View the technical specification for implementation details, formulas, and API documentation.
A public GET API is available at /calc?pot=100&stack=400&streets=3 for programmatic use.
Python Method (copy-paste)
def geometric_bet_fraction(pot: float, stack: float, streets: int) -> float:
    """Fraction of pot to bet each street so you're all-in on the last bet."""
    growth_factor = (pot + 2 * stack) / pot
    return 0.5 * (growth_factor ** (1 / streets) - 1)

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