Poker Math For Live Players

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ekgbeat

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Open Question: Are you a math or instinct play?

I'm looking for math techniques and tips that live players use. What is the best way to keep track of how much is in the pot? Are there any good mental math resources? What type of theory math do you apply at the table?
 
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Excomm

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While I'd say I'm more of a math player I'm really a large bit of both.

The only math I really take to the table is ~10% to flop a set (making it worth it to call almost any size raise under 20 bucks with a pair preflop), ~30% to make an open ended straight draw by the river (making calling any bets giving you ~2-3:1 profitable), and ~35% to make a flush draw by the river (again making calling bets giving you ~2-3:1 profitable).

As far as keeping track of how much is in the pot if you are thinking of entering the pot you need to pay attention to how many large denomination chips are entering the pot (usually there are $5 chips in a 1/2 game). The method I used was to count chips in multiples of 5 because the dealer usually stacks them that way to count them anyway. I'm sure other people use different methods though.

There's only so much math you can do at the table before you have to make your decision.

When I made the transition from online to live I was shocked that the standard raise at the live 1/2 tables was 10-15 dollars as there is no mathematical reason to raise this amount nor to call it, but yet it is pretty standard at the many casinos I have been to.

People also commonly bet over pot on the flop as a continuation bet even with middle pair, on ace high boards in three way flops and even just with straight and flush draws. Many of these people are there to have fun or for the thrill of the gamble.

I make the point above to answer your question that you need to make your math pretty simple and adjustable at a live cash game. The odds to hit your cards remains the same, but the price you are going to get to draw to them is going to vary considerably from hand to hand and from person to person.

In general I use implied odds heavily in live cash games to determine who I play hands with and which hands I play. I play stronger hands in isolation against smaller stacks because they are less likely to make me a lot of chips with a drawing hand. I play more drawing hands vs. large stacks in multiway flops in hopes that I can hit my draw and stack them off. The more likely I think someone is to stack off the more likely I am to call an overbet with a draw.
 
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ekgbeat

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When I made the transition from online to live I was shocked that the standard raise at the live 1/2 tables was 10-15 dollars as there is no mathematical reason to raise this amount nor to call it, but yet it is pretty standard at the many casinos I have been to.

This is very true. Thank you for the great tips:)
 
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Of course it is necessary to use mathematics in poker. I always count odds with core combinations. Details about this will not write. Easier for you to find and read a special literature. There are situations when you are obliged to maintain the rate opponent with a hand of 72, even knowing that he had AA. Let's say you're in the big blind and someone goes Allin rearranging BB 10%. You must respond with either hand. I believe that without the knowledge of poker math is impossible to become a successful player. So I recommend to study the literature on this topic.
 
Zelengorov

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Look the chips at the middle of the table and count
 
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ekgbeat

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Look the chips at the middle of the table and count

Wow, that is the most insightful post that I have seen on this site. Thanks for sharing that. You must be some high stakes reg.
 
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ekgbeat

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Of course it is necessary to use mathematics in poker. I always count odds with core combinations. Details about this will not write. Easier for you to find and read a special literature. There are situations when you are obliged to maintain the rate opponent with a hand of 72, even knowing that he had AA. Let's say you're in the big blind and someone goes Allin rearranging BB 10%. You must respond with either hand. I believe that without the knowledge of poker math is impossible to become a successful player. So I recommend to study the literature on this topic.

Thank you for the advice. Are you referring to to any particular literature, or are you talking in general? I know there are a lot of complex math / theory problems, but I also know that it is almost impossible to employ all of the math during live poker session. Unless you are a math wiz kid. So I was looking to understand math techniques that mere mortals are using at the live tables.
 
Zelengorov

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Wow, that is the most insightful post that I have seen on this site. Thanks for sharing that. You must be some high stakes reg.

And you must be on comedy show i think.
 
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ph_il

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-Keep track of who is in the hand.
-Keep track of the action. (Ask the dealer if you don't know)
-Round the numbers to make it easier. I like to go by 5's.
-Memorize common draws like OESDs, FDs, etc

So, if there is $44 in the pot and I'm facing a $29 bet and call, I'd round it to: $45 + $30 + $30 = $105. I have to call $30 to win $105.
 
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ekgbeat

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-Round the numbers to make it easier. I like to go by 5's.
-Memorize common draws like OESDs, FDs, etc.

Makes sense, thanks for sharing. Do you use any complex theory live, or do you just try to keep it simple?
 
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I think that's one of the reason I like play online.
it feels so shy to always ask "how many chips are you left"
and bring out ...cellphone calculator from pocket to do the maths.

PS: my idea is ask dealer ...how many chips are there in the pot, and ask your opponent how many chips do they have.
know it is boring, but ...seems no better solutions.<-- don't have the way to count chips quickly.:(

see any better ideas from other members.
 
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XXPXXP

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Look the chips at the middle of the table and count

if they build the chips stack...randomly? like randomly put different color of the chips mixed together...that is what I like to do.:D
 
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ph_il

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Makes sense, thanks for sharing. Do you use any complex theory live, or do you just try to keep it simple?
I just keep it simple.

-Count [clean] outs
-Use rule of 2 and 4. Mostly, I'll be using rule of 2
-Chase if I'm getting a good price for strong draws or good implied odds
-Fold if I'm not
 
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ph_il

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I think that's one of the reason I like play online.
it feels so shy to always ask "how many chips are you left"
and bring out ...cellphone calculator from pocket to do the maths.

PS: my idea is ask dealer ...how many chips are there in the pot, and ask your opponent how many chips do they have.
know it is boring, but ...seems no better solutions.<-- don't have the way to count chips quickly.:(

see any better ideas from other members.
Just ask someone how much they have left. If you feel awkward or they wont tell you, you can ask the dealer how much they have left.

If you don't want to ask anyone, most players keep their chips in stacks of 20-25. Depending on the size of a stack, and if you have a decent view of their chips, you can just quickly estimate how much they have.

For example, if someone has 3 stacks of 20 and a smaller stack about half the size, they're sitting on around $70 or so.
 
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ekgbeat

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I think that's one of the reason I like play online.
it feels so shy to always ask "how many chips are you left"
and bring out ...cellphone calculator from pocket to do the maths.

PS: my idea is ask dealer ...how many chips are there in the pot, and ask your opponent how many chips do they have.
know it is boring, but ...seems no better solutions.<-- don't have the way to count chips quickly.:(

see any better ideas from other members.

I completely agree with this. After a while both dealers and players get sick of you asking about the pot / chip stacks. Players think it's an angle, and some dealers don't want to do their job. Most of the dealers that I talk to hate doing tournaments since they don't make as much as a cash game.
 
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ekgbeat

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I just keep it simple.

-Count [clean] outs
-Chase if I'm getting a good price for strong draws or good implied odds
-Fold if I'm not

This is good advice. I try to follow a similar, but I didn't have a good method of keeping track of all the numbers.
 
mbrenneman0

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When trying to figure out pot size, remember what the last bet was for each round multiply by the amount of people who called.

Preflop bet is 15 and 4 players enter the pot, then pot size is (4*15) = 60. Flop bet is 30 and only 2 players remain to see the turn then pot size is the last pot size (60) + (30*2) now on the turn, the pot is 120 and so on...

Very basic, but its better to think of it this way than the way I thought of it when I first played. When I first played I tried to look at the pot and count. Too slow! And it lets people know youre calculating odds to draw if you're facing a bet and trying to count the pot, this is a major tell! Your math doesn't have to be perfect, just close enough

Practice keeping track of the pot size in hands you aren't involved in.
 
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mbrenneman0

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PS: my idea is ask dealer ...how many chips are there in the pot, and ask your opponent how many chips do they have.
Where I played, the dealer isn't allowed to tell you how many chips are in the pot. You have to keep track yourself. You could ask another player by the casinos rules but asking lets the fish know that there is more to it than throwing chips around
 
S3mper

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Yup - I think the exception is pot limit games.
 
Zelengorov

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if they build the chips stack...randomly? like randomly put different color of the chips mixed together...that is what I like to do.:D

Why do you do that? :D
 
Roman Tsygankov

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I can use my instincts together with math, So I can play my best game
 
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XXPXXP

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Why do you do that? :D
first no now knows how much I have.
2nd
if I do this a lot of players will think I am a casual player or a fish.:D
cos I seldom play live...new faces...:D
I know what they will read me...according to the book. So it is just a mislead to them, and after they realized, I will leave the tables with my winnings:D
 
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CallmeFloppy

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If I were to instruct a new player it would be to learn the math first and then build on your instincts. Math will put you in more +EV situations. Instincts will then help you to maximize them.
 
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ekgbeat

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When trying to figure out pot size, remember what the last bet was for each round multiply by the amount of people who called.

Preflop bet is 15 and 4 players enter the pot, then pot size is (4*15) = 60. Flop bet is 30 and only 2 players remain to see the turn then pot size is the last pot size (60) + (30*2) now on the turn, the pot is 120 and so on...

Very basic, but its better to think of it this way than the way I thought of it when I first played. When I first played I tried to look at the pot and count. Too slow! And it lets people know youre calculating odds to draw if you're facing a bet and trying to count the pot, this is a major tell! Your math doesn't have to be perfect, just close enough

Practice keeping track of the pot size in hands you aren't involved in.

Great advice. Thanks for sharing.
 
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mastahbates

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I use the 1 in 8 rule for setmining but also the 4/2 rule on the turn and flop compare this percentage against the pot value and work out my pot odds to ascertain whether it is worth my while putting more moolah in to the pot.

Wow, that is the most insightful post that I have seen on this site. Thanks for sharing that. You must be some high stakes reg.

LULZ!
 
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