Winning Before the Flop
We now know that losing players play too many hands. They also play with their emotions rather than their logic when they get short stacked and play super tight being afraid to be eliminated.
We also learned that we can get a good idea of the strength of our hand by using our EV and the M of our stack in the Statistics: Expected Value (EV) and MZone
article published earlier.
This is the formula you need to apply before the flop:
Raise if (EV x 100) > M and fold when it’s not.
Remember the previous formula expects you to be first entering the pot. But the exceptions will come by in later articles as I write them. For now just know that Poker is a game of situation..
Use the Expected Value Chart thoroughly. While it is not specific to any position it will give you an edge no matter where you play it from if you are under good circumstances. The closest you get to the dealer the more your hand’s EV diminishes. Adjust your play according to position, play tighter when you’re in the early position, loosen up a bit in middle and play hands like Q9 suited when you’re on the button.
You will see a picture of Tournament Indicator that automates the computation of key statistics such as EV for every single hand dealt, it adjusts based on your table position and of course knows my M value at all times. This gives me a real advantage over anyone who is calculating these stats mentally every other hand.
But how much will you raise?
Tags: expected value, Gos, mzone, sit'n go, starting hands, Statistics
Hello,
Just wondering if you could make a comment on what I’m about to say.
I play poker on Party Poker and have so for the past year and a half.
I can pretty well perdict what will happen on just about every hand….I’d say well over 50% of the hands end up as bad beats…beleive it or not.
Here’s my comment>
The last three small stake tournaments I’ve played I have been eliminated all three times with the same exact hand….Pocket Kings., after going all in with them. 2 times by flushs that my opponent got on the river, and the last one by Aces one in the opponet hand and then got their pair of Aces on the river actually there was 2 players who called my all in on the flop both having an Ace in their hand.
Anyways, am I just one of the most unluckiest players alive or would you say this is not uncommon at all??
I should mention…… I’ve noticed on this site that Pocket pairs, especially big pocket pairs K,Q, A’s lose way more then they win, not just for me but in general. Is this normal or do you think there’s something fishy going on??
Thanks for any response, I’d appreciate it.
Richard
One of the tools I use is PokerStrategy’s Equilator: http://www.pokerstrategy.com/uB3FXA
(use my affiliate link to register) once logged in their site you will find the software in their Strategy section. It is great at providing you with statistics about different hands based on other players hands and the players positions.
My understanding is that you are a tournament player. In my experience playing tournaments is all about avoiding risks of being eliminated until you make it in the paid positions, that includes going all-in pre-flop with high pocket pairs. Some players say the only cards that you can go all-in with in early tournament is AA but even that is arguable.
Remember that the earliest you put all your chips in a pot for a single hand, the riskiest it is for you to lose all of them on a bad beat. Favor strong hands and wait to get trips, straights, flushes and full houses then decide if you are still in a winning position before committing your chips to the pot!
You are better off being bluffed or folding a hand you MIGHT have won than risking to be eliminated from a tournament before you make it in the paid positions.
Patience,
Juari