Gap Concept

[ha0dho]

ive read quite a few tournament poker books and they always stress the importance of the gap concept. basically i want to know is the gap concept of the same importance or more or less importance in cash games as in tournament games?

[reno expat]

The gap concept continues to exist, but the gaps get waaaaaaaay smaller (almost nonexistant) by virtue of the fact that in cash games you are generally playing deeper, plus you can reload should you go bust.

[ha0dho]

thanks for the advice i thought thats what sklansky was getting at!!

[ImYrHukelbry]

gap concept = you need a better hand to call a raise vs open raising.

[PantsOnFire]

[ QUOTE ]
gap concept = you need a better hand to call a raise vs open raising.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's the gap concept as applied to an opponent who has the same starting hand requirements that you do.

The actual definition of the gap concept is that you need to be aware of tightness/looseness of the raiser when deciding which hands you can call that raise with.

For example, the little old lady who only plays the nuts raises UTG. This creates a very wide gap and you need a premium hand to call. However, the LAG nut does the same raise and the gap is considerably more narrow and you can open up your calling requirements.

I have even been in negative gap situations where I have a hand that I wouldn't even open raise with in most situations but would call a maniac for the implied odds and his wide opening range. In other words, there is a good possibility that my weak hand may even be stronger than maniac's opening requirements.