Fold Equity (LC)

beavens · #1 11-09-2005, 02:37 PM

Can anyone please explain this concept or give me a solid link?

(Check the FAQ and didn't see anything.)

I think I know the generalities but I'd like a complete understanding.

djoyce003 · #2 11-09-2005, 02:39 PM

Basically fold equity is the percentage chance that you think a large bet might get someone to fold. The theory behind it is that if you have a strong drawing hand, and you push, you have a decent chance of picking the pot up on your semi-bluff, plus you have the chance of making your hand if called. In the end, fold equity (if you think you have some on a hand) makes betting a drawing hand profitable because you have more than one way to win the hand.

If you estimate you have no fold equity then leading drawing hands is less +ev.

Fold equity is the element that makes the semi-bluff very powerful.

beavens · #3 11-09-2005, 02:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Basically fold equity is the percentage chance that you think a large bet might get someone to fold. The theory behind it is that if you have a strong drawing hand, and you push, you have a decent chance of picking the pot up on your semi-bluff, plus you have the chance of making your hand if called. In the end, fold equity (if you think you have some on a hand) makes betting a drawing hand profitable because you have more than one way to win the hand.

If you estimate you have no fold equity then leading drawing hands is less +ev.

Fold equity is the element that makes the semi-bluff very powerful.

[/ QUOTE ]

so in addition to possibly winning the hand by hitting your draw, you increase your chances to win by the possibility of them folding as well?

djoyce003 · #4 11-09-2005, 02:51 PM

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so in addition to possibly winning the hand by hitting your draw, you increase your chances to win by the possibility of them folding as well?

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Exactly. It's the entire reason why the board advocates pushing strong draws hard, such as OESFD, Pair+draw, Gutshot+flush, etc....you can win 2 ways...not just one...although your chances of making a hand with all of the above are pretty good.

beavens · #5 11-09-2005, 02:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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so in addition to possibly winning the hand by hitting your draw, you increase your chances to win by the possibility of them folding as well?

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Exactly. It's the entire reason why the board advocates pushing strong draws hard, such as OESFD, Pair+draw, Gutshot+flush, etc....you can win 2 ways...not just one...although your chances of making a hand with all of the above are pretty good.

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This is definitely one aspect of the game where I am too weak. I'll have a strong draw, but I don't bet it until I hit. I am looking forward to putting this concept into use and I think it'll work out nicely. I think it'll be easier to make the raises and pushes now that I will be able to explain WHY I did them.

emil3000 · #6 11-09-2005, 02:55 PM

Thought about making this into a low content post, but it fits in here I guess. Here's an oppponent against which you don't have any folding equity.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

SB ($892.25)
BB ($204.70)
Hero ($912.25)
MP ($190.12)
CO ($372.40)
Button ($142.20)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $2.
Hero raises to $15, 1 fold, CO calls $15, 2 folds, BB calls $11.

Flop: ($47) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $35, CO raises to $70, BB folds, Hero calls $862.25 (All-In), CO calls $287.40 (All-In).

Turn: ($1301.65) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($1301.65) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $1301.65

Results:
Hero has Kh Jh (one pair, twos).
CO has 3s 7s (two pair, threes and twos).
Outcome: CO wins $761.80. Hero wins $539.85.

beavens · #7 11-09-2005, 02:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thought about making this into a low content post, but it fits in here I guess. Here's an oppponent against which you don't have any folding equity.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

SB ($892.25)
BB ($204.70)
Hero ($912.25)
MP ($190.12)
CO ($372.40)
Button ($142.20)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $2.
Hero raises to $15, 1 fold, CO calls $15, 2 folds, BB calls $11.

Flop: ($47) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $35, CO raises to $70, BB folds, Hero calls $862.25 (All-In), CO calls $287.40 (All-In).

Turn: ($1301.65) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($1301.65) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $1301.65

Results:
Hero has Kh Jh (one pair, twos).
CO has 3s 7s (two pair, threes and twos).
Outcome: CO wins $761.80. Hero wins $539.85.

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oh, sorry for not labeling the post as LC.

ty for showing me an example - now is there no FE because there was no way he was going to fold that hand?

djoyce003 · #8 11-09-2005, 03:05 PM

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ty for showing me an example - now is there no FE because there was no way he was going to fold that hand?

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No fold equity there because the guy is a total idiot...typically the player has to be capable of making a fold for there to be fold equity...if you are up against a guy that will call any bet with any piece of the board, then don't push a draw because he'll probably pay you off if you hit, but he'll call an all-in with a crappy hand...like this guy did.

emil3000 · #9 11-09-2005, 03:05 PM

I'm sorry, I meant that if I posted that hand separately it would have been a low content thread, this is not so low content.

The hand illustrates that against some opponents, your folding equity is negligible, cause they aren't folding anything. Against some opponents, you push in with your flush draw cause you know they are folding that overpair a good % of the time, against this type of opponent (and I didn't realize he was this donkish when I pushed) you need the equity edge (which I had anyway, so push is correct).

This push would have been more +EV if he had been the type to fold that pair to my push.

beavens · #10 11-09-2005, 03:16 PM

OK great - thanks guys, I've got a reasonable grasp on the concept now. Let's just see if I can put it into practice now. I'm assuming that you need to have some reads on your opponents to apply FE?