Please explain this to me - Beginning Poker Questions

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Please explain this to me

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02-18-2019 , 05:38 PM

Poker Hat

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 42

To improve, I've been reading about ranges. While I'm "OK" and pinning down someones cards, it still needs work.

I found this on some poker website and it's just not sinking in. It has to do with pre-flop logic, but I don't get it.

Quote:

The more we know about our opponent, the more exact we can determine their range. A fairly tight player’s range for a first position raise would then possibly look like this.
AA–99; AKs–ATs; AKo–ATo

If we’re dealing with a looser player, the range would rather look like this.
AA–55; AKs–ATs; AKo–ATo; T9s; 98s; 87s

Let’s see how a hand like 2-2 plays against the tighter of the two ranges above. It’s a hand that has almost 40% equity and is certainly worth playing out of the blinds.

If we’re in the big blind, the opponent raises to 3bb and it’s folded to us, there's 4.5bb in the pot and we have to pay only 2bb to play.

We’re getting pot odds of 4.5-2 or 2.25 to 1, which means we have to win one in 3.25 times, equalling 30% equity. If the raise is lower than 3bb, our pot odds are even better.

It's the part in bold that I'm not getting. It's the opposite how I understand the relationship between pot odds and card odds.

It says that we need to win one in 3.25 times (3.25:1). The pot odds however is 2.25:1.

Why is it okay to proceed here when our pot odds are worse? Doesn't the pot odds need to be 3.25:1 or better (4.25:1)?

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02-18-2019 , 05:45 PM

madlex

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 17,410

You pay 1 to win 2.25 from the pot + your 1 for a total of 3.25. So if you win once every 3.25 times, you break even.

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02-18-2019 , 06:11 PM

Poker Hat

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by madlex

You pay 1 to win 2.25 from the pot + your 1 for a total of 3.25. So if you win once every 3.25 times, you break even.

I'm still not getting it. Sorry.

Let's say the blinds are 1 and 2.

SB puts out 1
BB puts out 2
UTG raises to 6 and it folds around to me in the BB

The pot is now 9 and I have to call 4. That's 2.25:1.

Where is the other 1 coming from?

Don't I break even if I win once every 2.25 times? Why 3.25?

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02-18-2019 , 06:20 PM

sixfour

should be called sevenfour

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 74,722

Let's make it simpler. I stick a dollar in front of you and flip a coin. Your chances of winning are one in what, and how much cash money do you need to bet to break even as a result?

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02-18-2019 , 06:36 PM

Tuma

Worships Amon-Ra

Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 16,390

A hero is facing a $2 bet and the pot is $8.

Hero is being laid 4-1.

Hero must win 1/5 times to breakeven....

(Case simulation.

1) -$2
2) -$2
3) -$2
4) -$2
5) +$8

Hero needs 20% equity.)

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02-18-2019 , 07:02 PM

Poker Hat

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuma

Okay, perfect. That's what I needed.

The number of times I can afford to lose a pot must never exceed the pot odds by more than 1. If the pot odds are 9:1, I can lose it 9 times but must win on the 10th (On the average) to break even: 10% equity required. Got it.

You did a way better job of explaining this than the article.

So now the next question....

How do I know preflop if my hand has enough equity?
If I'm being laid 3:1 pot odds, how do I know if my hand has at least 25%?

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02-18-2019 , 07:10 PM

King Spew

Just average

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 15,220

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poker Hat

How do I know preflop if my hand has enough equity?
If I'm being laid 3:1 pot odds, how do I know if my hand has at least 25%?

Download a program called Equilab...it's free
Won't take you too long to figure it out even if you choose not to read the directions

Plus in a hand for you and then:

give villain random hand
(doesn't matter what position you use for either at this point)
then calculate equity

next
two random hands
then calculate equity

next
three random hands
then calculate equity

next
four
five
six....how many players do you play with that are typically in a pot PF?

Your hand:
Try AA
Try AK
Try 78s
Try 33
Try KTo
etc

After an hour or two, you hand equities will be a bit clearer to you.

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02-18-2019 , 07:18 PM

Poker Hat

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Spew

Download a program called Equilab...it's free
Won't take you too long to figure it out even if you choose not to read the directions

Plus in a hand for you and then:

give villain random hand
(doesn't matter what position you use for either at this point)
then calculate equity

.....After an hour or two, you hand equities will be a bit clearer to you.

I've seen those before. There's one at cards chat.

So if I'm now understanding all this correctly, I'm supposed to guess the villains range depending upon what position he's opening from. Then I look at my cards and compare it to his range to estimate my equity. Right?

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02-18-2019 , 07:46 PM

King Spew

Just average

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 15,220

In a nutshell.

Equilab has the ability to use a Random range for villain(s) which makes it easy to start. You can also make up (and save/name) your own ranges like TAG EP (Tight Aggressive from Early Position) or LP SB (Loose Passive from the blinds)

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02-18-2019 , 07:58 PM

#10

Poker Hat

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Spew

I'll check it out.

Isn't it also safe to just call when you have a starting hand that's stronger than your position?

If you're in late position and being raised from middle position, can't you just call if you have a middle or early position starting hand?

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