Is there a formula that can be used to assess hand strength in tournament texas hold'em?

Question

I played in a live hold'em game last night and whilst the number of players on my table were around 6 to 10 I employed my usual 'feel' for which hands i should fold, call, check or raise with to great effect. When the numbers around the table reduced however, I found that I ought to have been playing hands that I folded or calling with hands I ought to have been raising with.

Can anyone give me a formula with which I could decide how to play various hands at various stages of the tournament? It would consider parameters such as number of players left, stack size in relation to blinds, relative stack sizes of opponents to own or anything else you think is relevant.

Answer 1

just a few tips that helped me learn the game very quickly in the last 2 years...position determines the value of your hand..POSITION is the most important of all variables in this game..like if you have a raise and a reraise before you act...you know your AQ or AJ is weaker than if nobody acts before you..and very often you must play the player, not the cards..especially in heads up, about 60 percent of the time nobody hits on the flop..you need to learn your outs and understand the concept "pot odds" and use the "2 and 4 rule" to quickly determine your odds of hitting on the turn and/or the river...look up videos for this on youtube...its free, i learned a LOT from watching the pro's on there...there is tons of free advice on that site and i like it best because its video and not text..phil helmuth, daniel negraunu, and howard lederer have a lot of free videos on youtube..check them out, its all good stuff..email me at [e-mail] if you have any other questions..good luck

Answer 2

The 2 and 4 rule is the best without needing a to be an MIT grad. Put your opponent on a hand and then take the number of outs you have X4 after the flop and X2 after the turn. This will also help you determine a more accurate pot odds.

Example: You have the nut flush draw after the flop and you put your opponent on a pair of Aces, you have 9 outs and should be around a 36% to win. So if you are getting better than 2:1 pot odds you should call.

If the turn comes and you miss, you still have 9 outs but you are only a 18%ish favorite to win. So you would need 4.5:1 pot odds to make a mathematically wise call.

Answer 3

I've adapted this strategy from Learn to Win Holdem. This should help you.

Tournaments:The Early Stages

In the early stages of a Sit and Go tournament the strategy should be to play tight (remember tight is right), but aggressive when you get a hand. You are looking to avoid action unless you find yourself with AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK, suited. Never limp in bet 4 to 5 times the Big Blind and if you get re-raised go all in. Everything else you fold. Do not play problem hands such as K2 through K10 off suit!

Here are some key points to remember at this stage...

* Play tight, but be very aggressive with premium hands.
* Fold trash hands.

Tournaments: The Middle Stages

The middle stages of a tournament is when the field is somewhere between 5 to 7 players. By this time there will be chip leaders and you ought to be in a good position especially if the tournament leaders are not quality players.

Still maintain the tight aggressive play as in the early stage with one exception; if your stack is less than 10 times the Big Blind you need to become a bit more aggressive with lesser hands like AJ, AQ off suit, A10, KQ suited and start raising with them. Be careful,raise as close to the dealer position as much as possible.

One of the things you should do with AJs, AQs, or KQs when close to the dealer's button is raise in order to get position. You will be surprised how often you can do that with success and enjoy a real good chance to win the pot. This stage of the SNG is survival time and that is exactly what you want to do - SURVIVE!

Here are some key points to keep in mind...

* You should know who the Maniacs, Rocks, Fish and Pros are.
* Continue to play tight aggressive.
* Remember this is survival time!

Tournaments: The Late Stages

If you reached this point, you are either on the bubble or in the money. Now your strategy is to WIN BABY WIN! At this stage of the tournament if you are the chip leader, you can loosen up your starting hand requirements and become aggressive.

Here is an example: You've got 8, 8 under the gun. Throughout other times in the tournament, you would either call with the hand hoping to flop a set or fold it instantly. This is not the case here. Make a strong pre-flop raise, and play aggressively post-flop regardless of the flop.

Don't "muck away" your blinds otherwise, you will be in trouble of blinding out. The blinds are high and throwing away your cards could leave you short stacked. During this phase of the game, you can't afford to wait for premium hands. Be aggressive! Play the player rather than the cards.

Here are some key points to bear in mind...

* If you are the chip leader you need to attack and play super aggressive the 2nd and 3rd place players, who are most likely folding away their chance to win the tourney
* When you have an average stack, you can't wait for the "monster" hands. This is the easiest way to "muck" your way out of the tournament.
*If you're short stacked, you need to take risks! Play aggressively to try to double up
*Never flat call a bet, either raise or fold.
*Always raise with the "monsters", never call.

Answer 4

Yes there is a mathematical answer and formula for pre-flop starting hand evaluation that does address your starting hand value, the size of the table, the type of table (loose or tight), your position, and other factors.

It is a point count system similar to the Goren Point Count system for Bridge.

You can find out more about it on my website.

It is called the Texas Holdem Dynamic Point Count Super Strategy.

The system also contains the exact odds of winning for every starting hand based on the number of players at the table, from 2 to 10.

DoverPro

Answer 5

It's all statistics. For example: If you had 3 aces what is the percentage that some one will have a better hand than you. maybe 20 to 30 percent. Thats how most of the major players do it.

Answer 6

No because you never truly know whats in anybody elses hand.