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RE: FIRST?

Qubit — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:16:03 GMT

Hi Pokerstudent,
The first step towards putting opponents on specific hand ranges is experience. It really takes quite a few hands to start correctly identifying the types of situations that you will commonly find yourself in. Furthermore, to predict some non-generic opponent's hand range requires seeing a number of hands that they have played in a variety of different situations.

Spend some time playing with the ICM tools available here and you will start to recognize certain situations where ICM play is critical. The understanding of these situations is what gives pros an edge when they approach the bubble.

Hope that helps!

RE: FIRST?

pokerstudent — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:39:03 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the concept of ICM and look forward to learning more.

My first question is what are the steps in learning your opponents range? How many hands should you see before you believe you have a feel for their range?

Take Care,

Pokerstudent

RE: FIRST?

JIMBOWIE1836 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:45:58 GMT

THANKS SHEETS UR THE BEST. NEVER KNOWN ABOUT ANY OF THIS IF IT WERENT FOR YOU. MY FAMILY AND I THANKYOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS

RE: FIRST?

ftisne — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:54:26 GMT

Thanks for your answer...

It was interesting to read... Of course 'it depends' but I guess you are right when you say that we must adapt min edge with players, it's clever and I'll try to do it..

It's a good idea to post good articles concerning ICM... ICM can be complex but it's very interesting...

Another subject very interesting for could be ... On which calling ranges you put your opponent depending on stack sizes / blinds levels / loose-average-tight opponents.

Have a nice day

Frederic in Paris France

RE: FIRST?

Qubit — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:07:33 GMT

Hi Ftisne,
This is an interesting question and like most answers to poker questions, it depends.

I'd say that it depends on how you're reading your opponents and also, how they are reading you. This is because if an opponent is reading your current style correctly and can, for example, make those long calls against your shoves, then you must account for his new range and counter it by changing your range. When two players are very strong and familiar with each other, then those players are not going to have much of an edge against each other and as a result, wont necessarily be able to find opportunities where they are guaranteed a 0.5% profit (min-edge). Thus, I suppose one could make an argument that the min-edge should be decreased for higher buy-ins.

It is important to note that this is not always the case. I never considered choosing my min-edge off my buy-in and instead, I choose it off of my opponents predicted range and my experience with that player. Another major factor is how big your stack is compared to the blinds. If you have to be playing very fast, but have a tight image, then maybe you can shove in a promising situation with little or no edge. I suppose in general, ranges get closer and closer to the optimal as buy-ins get higher and then min-edge has to go down for players to stay in a strong, aggressive game, however, I still recommend looking at other hands hands that are 'near' your hand's EV for any given situation. Not only does this help improve your game for future situations, but it can give you a perspective on the hand that you didn't previously have. This is precisely why we introduced a bubble-range in our ICM Applicator.

Topics like this are excellent questions that don't have any short explanation. To help our users grasp the impact of ICMs on such concepts we are working on building an extensive library of SNG articles. If there any suggestions on articles that ought to be included, please let us know.

I hope this helps!

RE: FIRST?

ftisne — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:32:55 GMT

HI...

I would like to know how you would change the min edge depending on the SNG buy-in ??? For example would you say 0.3% for lower buy-in SNG and 0.0% for high buy in SNG ?? and why ? Thanks ???

RE: FIRST?

sp1ke36 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:25:31 GMT

Yes, Thank You Qubit

RE: FIRST?

Qubit — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:29:01 GMT

In general, yes these hands should be considered. The min edge is a kind of fudge factor saying that we want to make at least 0.5% of the total prize pool by this action. This doesn't mean we absolutely want to push anything above 0.5% and never ever want to push anything below 0.5%. Instead, its saying push everything above 0.5% and acknowledge these other hands that still make a profit, but not the amount of profit we want. This is useful because you don't have to go back and change the min edge for all your calculations to see if 77 was actually a 0.4% profit and is a really close decision. It is also useful because sometimes the bubble range will have upwards of 50% of all hands in it. This is telling you that all these hands are very similar to each other in terms of equity.

Does that answer your question?

RE: FIRST?

sp1ke36 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:17:50 GMT

I did read that and I understand how you are getting the bubble range. What I'm asking is this range also to be considered for pushing and calling against maybe a looser opponent. What good is it to know this bubble range and any examples of how to apply it.

Thanks

RE: FIRST?

Qubit — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:50:49 GMT

Here is the explanation about the bubble range from the applicator page:
[quote]When the Compute Range button is clicked, it will return a result that has a Push or Call range and a Bubble range. The calculator computes how much equity you gain from pushing with all 169 starting hands and if that gain in equity is larger than the specified Min Edge, then that is added to the Push or Call range. If the hand's gain in equity is lower than Min Edge, but is within Bubble Edge then that hand is added to the Bubble range.[/quote]

The bubble range was added because often times there are many hands that have a teeny tiny bit of equity less than the min edge. The bubble range helps to identify those hands and situations.

RE: FIRST?

sp1ke36 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:00:49 GMT

Using the ICM applicator I return two ranges the push or call range, then the bubble range. How am I supposed to interperate or use the the bubble range?

Is this range to be considered for pushing against certain types of oppentents or avoided entirely?

RE: FIRST?

sp1ke36 — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:33:23 GMT

Hi Sheets and everyone,

Member of pxf btw, looking to learn more and how to apply the ICM calulations to my playing.

RE: FIRST?

Humpity — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 07:14:37 GMT

Hi everyone!

RE: FIRST?

Qubit — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:07:17 GMT

Welcome sheets ;)

FIRST?

sheets — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:34:48 GMT

Welcome to myself I guess.

sheets