5 to 1, 5% Rule?

  • Thread starter atlantafalcons0
  • Start date
atlantafalcons0

atlantafalcons0

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Total posts
3,713
Awards
1
Chips
4
I've been using a "rule" lately that seems to work out ok for me most of the time. If I'm getting 5 to 1 pot odds (or better) and it costs me 5% (or less) of my stack I call preflop (if it's not raisable) no matter what cards or position I have. Is this a stupid rule and should I stop doing this?
 
Last edited:
B

Blue_Fossil

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Total posts
383
Awards
1
Chips
12
Every time?

Many hands (most hands?) have better than 5:1 odds preflop, so it will be worth seeing a flop in a lot of cases. But I can't see calling every time, because some hands simply aren't worth it. It would also be hard for me to disregard position.
 
XXPXXP

XXPXXP

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Total posts
5,511
Awards
2
Chips
0
I've been using a "rule" lately that seems to work out ok for me most of the time. If I'm getting 5 to 1 pot odds (or better) and it costs me 5% (or less) of my stack I call preflop (if it's not raisable) no matter what cards or position I have. Is this a stupid rule and should I stop doing this?

if the hands ends preflop
call Every time clearly.
because even everytime you are against AA,KK combo
you still get near the line of break even.
 
punctual

punctual

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
Total posts
1,057
Chips
0
That's an interesting way of looking at things. Kudos for the creative thinking. Typically we pit pot odds against the odds of hitting our outs.

From the outset, it seems like a great bankroll management strategy. You are limiting your downside to 5% of your bankroll and when you win you will win at least 25%; great risk/reward ratio.

However, how often do these opportunities come along? And when they do come along, what kind of circumstance do you find yourself in?

Let's assume that this is the only strategy you employ in your play (i.e. the rule is the only rule you use to determine whether or not you enter a pot.) Then (assuming no antes) you will only be involved in a pot if there are many other people in the pot before you (to get 5 to 1 pot odds preflop would mean that at least 3 people other than SB and BB would have to be in the pot already in order for you to consider calling). So this means you never call from the first 3 positions and you only call from the 4th position when every single player in the first 3 positions is involved in the pot having bet the same amount (if one has a different bet amount, then that changes the x to 1 pot odds from x=5 to x<5).

So now you find yourself in a situation where when you are involved in a pot, you are always involved with 4 other players and 3 of those other players more likely than not have you beat because they voluntarily put money in the pot based on their hand values (and since they are in earlier position than you are, they would theoretically need stronger hands than yours to call with from those earlier positions). So not only are you in with 4 other players, but now it is likely that at least 3 of them have hands that beat yours.

Now you didn't say this is the only rule you use throughout a tournament or cash game. I don't see how the rule helps you achieve positive results regardless! I think any kind of rule that you come up with involving pot odds needs to be connected to your hand value.
 
K

kozikpro

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Total posts
70
Chips
0
u cant play like that read some articles or watch videos and there u have answer
 
atlantafalcons0

atlantafalcons0

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Total posts
3,713
Awards
1
Chips
4
This is a rule I use from the small blind. I don't like to limp pot consistently. Most of the time I raise in position playing an appropriate range for that position. If 4 people limp, this rule makes me complete in the sb with great pot odds. In situations where the button limps, I always call from the sb no matter what cards I have. I hope this cleared some things up.
 
duggs

duggs

Killing me softly
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Total posts
9,512
Awards
2
Chips
0
i depends how strong the ranges you are up against are, and whether you close the action. % of stack seems somewhat irrelevant as its easier to realise our equity when shallower. the distribution of our equity on textures is also important, flopping a little equity a lot of the time is worse than a lot of equity occasionally
 
4soul

4soul

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
May 31, 2009
Total posts
581
Chips
0
This rule that you, atlantafalcons0 use in your game is near the "rule of 10". That means you can call from any position with any two cards if the opponent push is smaller than 10% from your stack. BUT be carefull....you must be shure that you will be the last who will call that ....because the situation became unlikely if other calls too or 3-betting you.
You can find some info from internet, i want to put a link in here but i don't know if it's allowed doing that.
 
duggs

duggs

Killing me softly
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Total posts
9,512
Awards
2
Chips
0
This rule that you, atlantafalcons0 use in your game is near the "rule of 10". That means you can call from any position with any two cards if the opponent push is smaller than 10% from your stack. BUT be carefull....you must be shure that you will be the last who will call that ....because the situation became unlikely if other calls too or 3-betting you.
You can find some info from internet, i want to put a link in here but i don't know if it's allowed doing that.

you can link, but it sounds like a terrible strategy
 
M

matiusaa

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Total posts
779
Chips
0
I've been using a "rule" lately that seems to work out ok for me most of the time. If I'm getting 5 to 1 pot odds (or better) and it costs me 5% (or less) of my stack I call preflop (if it's not raisable) no matter what cards or position I have. Is this a stupid rule and should I stop doing this?

Its very risky because there will be situations in which you will find yourself in a tough spot. Also it depends on villians play. If they are guys who cannot fold TPTK then you could take advantagd of it, but if your opponents know how to fold TPTK then it won't be a good strategy. I assume that your play is to hit doubles or better (you need to be careful when you hit 3 of a kind)
 
Poker Rules - Poker Games
Top