Every poker player has one single goal – to win and win as much money as possible. A good combination or the ability to make the opponent fold can help us win. Therefore, in this article, we will understand what is fold equity in poker.
What is fold equity in poker?
Let’s start with the most important and find out what is fold equity in poker. This is a high probability that your opponent will fold after you bet or raise. This tactic is best used in a game where someone at your table is playing very aggressively and raises frequently. Fold equity will help to pacify the player and get a good amount of money from him. The most important thing is to play correctly. You should know all the peculiarities of such a trick, to implement it correctly and at the right moment.
When to use fold equity?
If you see that a player starts to play aggressively, then at this moment it is worth considering fold equity. But this is provided that this player does not have a powerful combination in his hands. In order to calculate this, there are various formulas and tricks, but during the game, it is very difficult to do this. Also, don’t forget that fold equity does not guarantee winnings. Here you need to play correctly, and it is not so easy.
Who should use fold equity?
If you are a beginner or an amateur in poker, then it is worth starting with the calculations. Learn to evaluate and recognize fold equity as you play. This will help you play better. Only after such practice, one can begin to apply such a strategy. But most often it is used by people who are professionally involved in poker.
Types of fold equity
Today, two types of fold equity can be distinguished, namely high and low. Before evaluating the use of such tactics, you need to take into account some features of the opponents’ game. Let’s analyze this in more detail:
- Some increase the fold equity. Your task is to find out how often the opponent folds, and how often he raises the bet, having an obviously non-winning combination in his hands. Also, see if the opponent folds when he realizes that the rest of the cards are better. In this case, it is worth increasing fold equity;
- Some lower the fold equity. Here you need to watch if the opponent uses bluffing techniques to get out of a difficult situation in the game.
If you see the first type of players, then most likely your opponent will fold after your raise. If we talk about the second type of player, then most likely the opponent will equalize the bets or even raise them.
Conclusion
Fold Equity is a serious technique that requires certain skills. If you observe these tactics well and learn to evaluate the characteristics of the players, you can significantly increase your winnings. A competent approach to such tactics will give many advantages. It is extremely important to master this indicator when the player is going to move to medium and even higher limits since there you will need to resort to bluffing much more often. Many players intuitively feel the impact of fold equity and try to take advantage of it without even knowing the theory. Regular training and analysis of your hands allow you to hone your skills and make profitable decisions in seconds. Pay attention during the game, note the typical mistakes of opponents, and use statistics to know where to look for high-fold odds. Let bluffs and semi-bluffs bring you profit.
