D
Dark Army
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I was looking at what kind of equity you need pre-flop to call an open from UTG with TT and JJ.
So far, it's not looking good. (Please point out any errors if I've made any. Equity and ranging is fairly new to me.)
If UTG is tight, his range is usually AA, KK, QQ, AK and infrequently AQ, JJ and KQ. Rarely more than that coming from a nit.
With TT and JJ, your equity against the big pocket pairs is around 18% - 19%. But when do you actually get pot odds that allow for 18% or 19% and what are the dynamics of that situation?
Let's say Hero is UTG1.
SB - 10
BB - 20
UTG - 40 (2x)
Hero - ?
You'll need at least 36.36% equity. It's a fold here unless you want to count the implied odds behind you.
With one call behind you, you'll need 26.67%.
With two calls behind you, you'll need 21.05%.
With three calls behind you, you'll need 17.39%. Bingo.
So if you get the implied odds (and with a 2x raise you will sometimes), you're good to go. But how often are you facing a weak 2x?
What if he raises a standard 3x or more? You might not get the implied odds you need. Without the implied odds, your equity only covers the AK and lower hands. Not the pairs above TT and JJ which you are likely to face against a nit.
Also, what happens when you're in a mid-late spot and you get three calls in front of you instead of behind?
SB - 10
BB - 20
UTG - 40 (2x)
UTG1 - Calls 40
Mid - Calls 40
Low J - Calls 40
Hero - ?
Again you'll need at least 17.39%, which you do have. But remember, this is to just barely break even. There's no guarantee of reasonable profit unless the late position players or blinds also call. And what if they do? Your're jammed in the middle of a huge, complicated multi-way pot with a mid-high pair. Sound like fun?
If UTG is loose instead of a nit, they'll be more cards in his range that your equity covers. Still, with all the implied odds needed to cover the big pairs, the calling hands are going to contain aces, kings, queens and perhaps a blocker T or J. You'll need a dry board that misses everyone and hope for a set.
So the best time to doing anything pre-flop with TT or JJ is in late position when you can raise the limpers or open. A big raise will thin the field and give you the best shot.
The temptation to call a raise with any low to mid pair is high, especially for new players. When we analyze situations like this, it's pretty clear how most often the best policy is to simply fold.
So far, it's not looking good. (Please point out any errors if I've made any. Equity and ranging is fairly new to me.)
If UTG is tight, his range is usually AA, KK, QQ, AK and infrequently AQ, JJ and KQ. Rarely more than that coming from a nit.
With TT and JJ, your equity against the big pocket pairs is around 18% - 19%. But when do you actually get pot odds that allow for 18% or 19% and what are the dynamics of that situation?
Let's say Hero is UTG1.
SB - 10
BB - 20
UTG - 40 (2x)
Hero - ?
You'll need at least 36.36% equity. It's a fold here unless you want to count the implied odds behind you.
With one call behind you, you'll need 26.67%.
With two calls behind you, you'll need 21.05%.
With three calls behind you, you'll need 17.39%. Bingo.
So if you get the implied odds (and with a 2x raise you will sometimes), you're good to go. But how often are you facing a weak 2x?
What if he raises a standard 3x or more? You might not get the implied odds you need. Without the implied odds, your equity only covers the AK and lower hands. Not the pairs above TT and JJ which you are likely to face against a nit.
Also, what happens when you're in a mid-late spot and you get three calls in front of you instead of behind?
SB - 10
BB - 20
UTG - 40 (2x)
UTG1 - Calls 40
Mid - Calls 40
Low J - Calls 40
Hero - ?
Again you'll need at least 17.39%, which you do have. But remember, this is to just barely break even. There's no guarantee of reasonable profit unless the late position players or blinds also call. And what if they do? Your're jammed in the middle of a huge, complicated multi-way pot with a mid-high pair. Sound like fun?
If UTG is loose instead of a nit, they'll be more cards in his range that your equity covers. Still, with all the implied odds needed to cover the big pairs, the calling hands are going to contain aces, kings, queens and perhaps a blocker T or J. You'll need a dry board that misses everyone and hope for a set.
So the best time to doing anything pre-flop with TT or JJ is in late position when you can raise the limpers or open. A big raise will thin the field and give you the best shot.
The temptation to call a raise with any low to mid pair is high, especially for new players. When we analyze situations like this, it's pretty clear how most often the best policy is to simply fold.
