The M Factor!!

tokie36

tokie36

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Total posts
20
Chips
0
Was wondering if anyone had an easy way to explain it.
 
Mase31683

Mase31683

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Total posts
1,474
Awards
1
Chips
1
M = Total pot preflop / Stack

If blinds + antes = 1200 and your stack is 12,000 your M=10

It's the number of rounds you can pay the blinds before you're stacked, and it applies to tournys mostly.
 
C

chardukian

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Total posts
40
Chips
0
Is this a tournament term? I've never even heard of it. (I only play cash games)
 
Steveg1976

Steveg1976

...
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Total posts
2,516
Awards
1
Chips
0
Join in the Harrington on Hold'em book discussion and you will learn all about it and how it applies in different situations.
 
tokie36

tokie36

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Total posts
20
Chips
0
Steve

Hey thanks steve will do that as soon as i find it. also thanks i thought that was how you did it but i wasnt sure.
 
Makwa

Makwa

Undesirable Predator
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Total posts
6,080
Chips
0
Join in the Harrington on Hold'em book discussion and you will learn all about it and how it applies in different situations.
And get the books. Its no big deal really -- your play is dictated by the rising blinds, your stack size vs others, position, and stage of the tournament. For instance, K10 mid position early in the tourney, makes no sense to call UTG raise. At the other extreme, short stacked facing being blinded out shortly, it may call for an all-in.
Basically it is the breakdown most tourney players know: 20+blinds (happy playah), 10 blinds (medium happy), 5 (you gotta move).
 
SavagePenguin

SavagePenguin

Put the win in penguin
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Total posts
7,594
Awards
1
Chips
3
I like Makwa's summary.

Harrington on Hold'em Volume II covers M nicely.

An M under 10 means you're in trouble so you need to be careful about what you play and against who. Drawing hands become less playable so forget about the middle suited connectors and small pairs.
When you get to an M of about 5, you're looking to shove with a *huge* range of hands into any unchallenged pot. The reason 5 is the magic number is because you still have enough chips to hurt people (fold equity) and doubling up will be significant should you get called and suck out on them. If you wait until you have an M of 3 to shove not only are you more likely to get called, but doubling up will not improve your situation much.

Now, to complicate things a little more, you have to be careful against who you're making these shoves against. Shoving when middle stacks have the blinds are ideal, as you have enough chips to hurt them, so they're only going to call with nice hands (which isn't likely). Big stacks are apt to look you up with less because they can afford it, and short stacks are apt to pick that time to make a stand out of desperation.
 
Makwa

Makwa

Undesirable Predator
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Total posts
6,080
Chips
0
I like Makwa's summary.

Harrington on Hold'em Volume II covers M nicely.

An M under 10 means you're in trouble so you need to be careful about what you play and against who. Drawing hands become less playable so forget about the middle suited connectors and small pairs.
When you get to an M of about 5, you're looking to shove with a *huge* range of hands into any unchallenged pot. The reason 5 is the magic number is because you still have enough chips to hurt people (fold equity) and doubling up will be significant should you get called and suck out on them. If you wait until you have an M of 3 to shove not only are you more likely to get called, but doubling up will not improve your situation much.

Now, to complicate things a little more, you have to be careful against who you're making these shoves against. Shoving when middle stacks have the blinds are ideal, as you have enough chips to hurt them, so they're only going to call with nice hands (which isn't likely). Big stacks are apt to look you up with less because they can afford it, and short stacks are apt to pick that time to make a stand out of desperation.
This is good elucidation of H's formula. I will give you a klondike bar if you join the HOH discussion upstairs.
 
SavagePenguin

SavagePenguin

Put the win in penguin
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Total posts
7,594
Awards
1
Chips
3
This is good elucidation of H's formula. I will give you a klondike bar if you join the HOH discussion upstairs.

I was meaning to get into that. I even wrestled by HoH book back from my friend, meaning to re-read it. (I've read it thoroughly twice already.... and by thoroughly I mean I'd re-read sections while reading it).

But it's been awhile since I read them. I just need to find time to read before I get involved.
 
Makwa

Makwa

Undesirable Predator
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Total posts
6,080
Chips
0
But it's been awhile since I read them. I just need to find time to read before I get involved.

No need to reread now, not at all. The discussion brings everything back, and you have a fair grasp already, which the thread will reinforce/remind you of.
Get off the pot, it will only work if people who know stuff can help.
Got yr bar in the freezer for now.
 
S

salex77

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Total posts
76
Chips
0
M factor

Also as Harrington explains when you're faced with a short handed table like 3 handed and the m factor is 6 you need to divide by 3 or whatever number of players areno at yourt able and you actually have a real m factor of 3 because here your blinds will be more rapid and you blinded out faster than at a full table. This is very important to make this adjustment.
 
T

tonydamage

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
Total posts
45
Chips
0
take note that M directly affects your action. it has different zones which dictate your hand range for the push or fold/push phase
 
J

j0na1234

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Total posts
103
Chips
0
Huh. i never heard of an M factor. But i'm reading Harrington's book (volume1) so 'ill probably see everything i need to know about how what and when about it :)
 
Top