N.D.
Visionary
Silver Level
It occurs to me that many may be poker savants. When I read articles and books on strategy I find that when I've played my best I've been using some of the math and concepts without knowing what they are. Sure it's not as exact, or even as good a tool as knowing exactly where you stand, but yeah, it happens. It's not genius, but it is inadvertently doing the right thing.
Accidental M-ratio - Accidental M-ratio is when you're using M-ratio without even knowing what it is. You look at your stack, and count up how many orbits you have left based on the blinds(and later antes). You may not calculate it exactly but you will come pretty close. You don't realize there's a mathematical formula but you just count it up to the closest 10 or you round up when it gets really big. You then adjust your play based in part on that stack. Nobody told you to, you just knew.
Accidental Q-factor - It's when you instinctively keep the information window open towards the final table bubble, or in the case of a satellite which pays the same over several places towards the prize bubble. You use your place in the tournament wisely. Sometimes abandoning M-ratio all together. When 100 spots pay equally it's better to just survive unless your Q-factor's high. You know how weak or strong you are and what you need to do to get where you want to be. It's an accident, but explained by Q-factor or relative position in the tournament. Nobody told you to, you just did it.
Accidental ICM - Ah, here's a good one. Helps if most or all of the stacks are about even. Ever fold AK to a good sized raise and/or reraise pre-flop when close to the cash? Would it have cost you a good sized chunk of your chips to be in the hand? How about folding 99(same situation)? Ever make that good sized raise pre-flop based on being first to act and realizing the rest of the table would probably fold to you? In a very simple way you were using ICM on accident.
That's all very simplified, but frequently effective. At the bottom you can play "close enough". Heck some people play worse than "close enough" higher up.
Accidental M-ratio - Accidental M-ratio is when you're using M-ratio without even knowing what it is. You look at your stack, and count up how many orbits you have left based on the blinds(and later antes). You may not calculate it exactly but you will come pretty close. You don't realize there's a mathematical formula but you just count it up to the closest 10 or you round up when it gets really big. You then adjust your play based in part on that stack. Nobody told you to, you just knew.
Accidental Q-factor - It's when you instinctively keep the information window open towards the final table bubble, or in the case of a satellite which pays the same over several places towards the prize bubble. You use your place in the tournament wisely. Sometimes abandoning M-ratio all together. When 100 spots pay equally it's better to just survive unless your Q-factor's high. You know how weak or strong you are and what you need to do to get where you want to be. It's an accident, but explained by Q-factor or relative position in the tournament. Nobody told you to, you just did it.
Accidental ICM - Ah, here's a good one. Helps if most or all of the stacks are about even. Ever fold AK to a good sized raise and/or reraise pre-flop when close to the cash? Would it have cost you a good sized chunk of your chips to be in the hand? How about folding 99(same situation)? Ever make that good sized raise pre-flop based on being first to act and realizing the rest of the table would probably fold to you? In a very simple way you were using ICM on accident.
That's all very simplified, but frequently effective. At the bottom you can play "close enough". Heck some people play worse than "close enough" higher up.