Hi,

So yeah, I just realized that there is not always the same number of combos that add value on the boards.

For example: AAAAK, 0 combos add values to that board (meaning that if vilain bet, there 100% chance it's bluffin )

I want to know everything about that. I guess this is what we call wet and dry boards.

1) what is the board type for which there is the maximum number of combos that add value? How many are they?

2) 8d9dAhKs, how wet is that? Below average? You have some hints/tricks to estimate the level of wetness of a board?

Thank you,
Your Chuck

Get Equilab*.

Input a range for hero, input a range for villain.

Input a flop texture.

Run the equity evaluator and then press the pie-chart button next to the percentage result.



That will take you to another screen that tells you how many combos in the range make sets, two pairs, straights, flush draws etc.

Boards like KQ9tt tend to give lots of value combos and draws to an early position raiser, since he mostly plays "big cards". Boards like 752r tend to miss the raiser (he doesn't have many 7x hands for top pair), and will generally fit a caller's range better, since his range won't contain things like QQ+/AK, but will usually contain 77/55/22 etc.

* Flopzilla and Combonator have similar features.

I like to use equilab to figure out my range vs range preflop equity and then see how it changes when different flops hit. Then I adjust my strategy depending on the size of the advantage that either player might have.

There's a threshold, that can't be described with pure equity, which separates dry and wet boards. I think this threshold is dependent on the opponent's folding frequency. On the more static, or dry boards, there will be an abundance of fold equity, so you should bluff with the best of the bad hands, which will receive a profit from bluffing.

On the more dynamic or wet boards, there will be a lack of fold equity relative to the more static boards. As Arty noted:

combined with many profitable draws like 86s, 64s, A3s, A4s that are often in a preflop caller's range, gives the preflop caller a larger pot share on the 752r flop compared with a more static flop like AAA. Because of this, on the more dynamic, or wet flops, you'll have to build your bluffing range with the stronger draws often and the weaker draws rarely. You're going to get called more often so you need the equity to back up your bluff on wet boards.

This is all important to your question:

because as the board gets better for the preflop caller, the more combos you will find that benefit from the board in the preflop callers range. My guess is that the answer depends on the exact ranges in question. For example, in a heads up no limit holdem match, the ranges are at their widest, so the board that benefits the preflop caller's range the most will be lower connected boards that miss the preflop raiser's range. Boards like 345r, 456r, 356r come to mind.

When ranges are tighter, there are some boards that neither player can hit, and the preflop raiser will retain most of his preflop advantage even though the board looks wet. For example, in a full stacked no limit holdem game, utg6max raises 3x, folds to the button who calls and the blinds both fold.

345r

If the button is relatively tight and will fold 33-55, 76s, and A2s preflop, then there are not many combos that will interact with the board. However, against a looser player, those hands will be in his range, which will affect the equities.

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I left flushdraws for last because the effect they have on combos and equities depends heavily on how many combos there are in the ranges and the strength of those combos. Typically, the possibility of a four flush will benefit the preflop raiser slightly because he can hold all of the dominating draws, while the preflop caller will hold more dominated draws and less nutty draws. The exceptions to this are boards that block the preflop raiser's value range from holding the strongest made hands and draws. For example, utg full ring raises 3x, folds to the big blind who calls.

AKQ

I don't raise JTs here preflop if there's any hint of frequent preflop 3 bets, so when this flop falls, I can't hold the best hands. My opponent in the big blind can hold lots of flushes and straights and even a Royal Flush is in his range. This board has few combos interacting with utg and many interacting with the big blind. As utg, I really wouldn't be comfortable putting in lots of action on that flop with hands as strong as AK or AQ. Top two pair is usually a monster, but sometimes the board can make top two pair a liability.

Besides those exceptions, the presence of a four flush typically benefits the preflop raiser.

On boards that allow made flushes, it again depends on the ranks and the ranges in question. I've found that Ace high monotone boards benefit the preflop raiser slightly relative to preflop equities, but most of the other monotone boards will benefit the preflop caller's equity relative to preflop.

I think this indicates that we see many combos in the preflop caller's range interacting with the monotone board, while we see fewer combos from the preflop raiser's range interacting with the monotone board. This all with the exception of Ace high monotone boards, which have the opposite effect.

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I'm not even going to touch on paired boards. I suggest that you get equilab and look into the topic on your own.

[x] Any board where a flopped straight is possible.
[x] Three cards between jack and seven in particular.
[x] Flush draw.
[ ] Lots of fold equity.

Generally speaking, if you are the pre-flop raiser, you hate flops like T87tt, J98tt etc, since they connect so well with a typical caller's range. Be especially concerned on boards where JTs would make the nuts (i.e. Q98, 987). In multiway pots especially, when JTs would make the nuts, someone (almost) always has JTs.
Even if you're ahead on the flop on the other "wet" flops, there are so many turn/river cards that will either make you go behind, or be super-scary for either you or your customer.

Thanks! Very usefull.