Re: This business of adjusting to the ante structure
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ante structure is critically important in determining optimal 3rd street play.
[/ QUOTE ]
To a point. Ante structure is a strong factor in optimal 3rd street play. Excluding stealing and defending against stealing, Andy B pretty much summed it up well.
[/ QUOTE ]
You are excluding two very common and very important situations, especially in tough or short-handed games.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Starting pot size determines the value of your steal equity.
[/ QUOTE ]
What is your definition of "steal equity"? I can't think of one that doesn't involve the calling ranges of people left to act. Starting pot size is one factor, but it isn't the sole factor.
[/ QUOTE ]
Your steal equity is a function of how big the pot is and how often you will steal. If you are getting 2.33:1 and you will steal 35% of the time, your immediate steal equity is .17 small bets.
How often you will steal, again assuming optimal opponents, is itself a function of pot size. So there is a tendency for pot size to both increase and reduce your steal equity. However the former effect trumps the latter. (I.e. you should steal more rather than less when the pot is larger.)
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Unless you have a hand that is a clear favorite to the board, the EV of folding versus limping versus completing
is a function of reverse implied odds and steal equity. (If you have a draw the decision is a function of implied odds versus steal equity.)
[/ QUOTE ]
Can you explain this further?
[/ QUOTE ]
In a high ante game you have a much bigger incentive to play a marginal hand rather than fold it, and if you are going to play it you have a much bigger incentive to try to steal rather than just limp.
Even with a strong draw like 9s8s7s it steal may be more profitable to complete and try to steal rather than limp and maximize your implied odds, if the ante is big enough.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you have something like (5s4s)4c and there are three overcards behind you, your decision between folding, limping or completing is purely a function of pot size (obviously I am holding the exposed cards constant and assuming generic solid opponents).
[/ QUOTE ]
That you need to assume generic solid opponents just helps prove Andy B's point that the particular players in your game is an important variable.
[/ QUOTE ]
The point that the particular players in the game are important is completely self-evident. Everyone knows that. It was never in contention.
The question is what the impact of the ante is. To illustrate that point we must hold the quality of the players constant.
|