Poker Forum

Over 1,246,000 Posts!

Subscribe to FTR web feed
Already Registered?      Username:    Password:   Remember      Forgot Password
  >    > 

ISF Theorem

  
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-03-2007, 07:42 PM     Post subject: ISF Theorem #1 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Amazingly, when I was hi yesterday from some horrible weed, I came to a breakthrough thought in my poker game. I called sauce up and explained to him what I just realized and he had no idea why it was so amazing. It took me awhile but then I realized that the reason he didnt find it amazing is because it was so simple, and the fact that any player would overlook it is ridiculous. But many players do.

I'll explain.

Given Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (lets just say in a HU match since its easiest), to an outside observer the holding of each player is based
on probability. I.E. player 1 can have AK, a flush, AQ, player 2 can have 44, 55 etc.

Sound familiar? Yeah it does because all im talking about is that each opponent has a range.

What many players do however is never look at the hand from this perspective. In your eyes there is only one player with a range, when that is in fact far from the case.

All this is is 2nd level thinking. We're thinking of not only what our opponent have, but what we could have and how that will effect the hand.

Now at this point you may say "Yeah well I understand this concept so what?" Well here's the application.

During any given moment in a hand, each player has a range. From an outside observers perspective, he can guess during any point of the hand which player is more likely to win, and a good hand reader would be able to do this 100% of the time. Therefore, the player who is most likely going to win the hand could be said in other words to be beating the range of his opponent (this actually isn't the exact same thing, but the point is is that a given range can be ahead or behind another range).

So let me give an example.

You are against a 17/12 who never raises low pp's or sc's preflop. You call his MP raise on the BU. Don't worry about your cards they don't matter.

Flop comes 765.

Now if we do a range of opponents "nut" (by nut i mean hands he will stack off with), we can think of 4 hands that are all only sometimes stacking off, AA/JJ (88 and 99 will likely find a fold somewhere else in the hand as long as we consider 88/99 non blanks)
Our opponent lets say raises 10% of his hands from MP, this means that he is only taking 1 or 2% of his hands all the way. 80% of the time he will muck his hand on the flop if we raise, and probably 10% of the time he will end up folding on later streets.
Our range on the other hand hit very hard. 89,76,75,65,77,66,55,43 (and pairs with straight draws that are marginal dogs to overpairs)

Since our range includes much more nut hands than our opponent, we actually have a much better probability of winning the hand than our opponent given only the action preflop, aka our range is ahead of our opponent.

Which brings me to my theorem.

ISF Theorem:
If your range is ahead of your opponents range, you should bluff more often. If your range is behind your opponents range, you should play tighter.


It's so stupidly simple, so stupidly simple it makes me wonder why a good player couldn't just explain it. But then I realized a few reasons.
1. It's so obvious they don't understand why it needs to be explained.
2. It's hard to put this simply
3. If they told people this everyone would become a much better player and they can't have everyone be that good.
4. I'm wrong

Earlier in the hand ISF theorem is pretty vague. Preflop it makes sense why we call hands like 45s in position because we're behind our opponents range and we should be playing more passive when we are. We threebet weak hands from CO raises because our own range is so far ahead of our opponents.

On the flop its a little less vague. We raise preflop and a tagg calls us on the BU.
Flop comes KJ6. Here our range is way ahead of our opponents...
If you didn't understand the first time here's the explanation again, We will stack off everytime with KK,JJ,66,KJ. Sometimes with AA/AK/KQ. Our opponent will stack off with 66 and KJ (except he wont show up with KJ a lot). Because our range is completey crushing our opponent, we should play the hand a lot more aggressively! This is why it can be really awesome to be the PFR!
On the turn since our ranges become a lot tighter, play becomes a lot easier. Hand ranges at this point normally consist of only a handful of hands, making it much easier to play more aggressively if we are ahead of their range, and easy to play more passive if we are behind it.
The turn, and especially the river, are times where some super sick bluffs can take place because of how tight the ranges become.
Lets say the board is KJ658 and a flush just completed on the river. We flat called two streets, which is easy to read as a FD. We actually have a pair of jacks. Our opponent has a huge range, including a flush, which he'll have maybe 15% of the time. Since we show up with a flush so much more than our opponent, which is the nuts, we can play the hand much more aggressively.
.......
There are of course some flaws in the theorem.

1. Our range is entirely dependent on what our opponent thinks our range is. Therefore a fish is not putting us on much of a range and all we can really do is think on the 1st level. We have a hand that is beating his range then we bet/call, if we dont then we fold/(call if we are drawing or since we are ahead of some and pot odds dictate).

2. Hands our opponents will stack off with becomes liquid. I actually will go on record in saying that these adjustments will come very slowly, but likely not at all at 600nl-. But as we become more aggressive or more passive our opponents nut hands (which i have defined for the sake of simplicity to be hands they will stack off with) will become wider or smaller. Yet, this doesn't break the theorem, rather it just makes us think harder about our opponents range.

3. Nut hands isn't all we should be taking into consideration. But "Strength of range" is extremely hard to define.
Let's say we put all hands on two opposing ladders. Each hands beats all hands below it, The higher up the better the hand. Is it the total "height" of all the hands on your ladder combined the determines strength (probably not) or is it also effected by outliers and clumps? Or do the variables completely change in different situations?
Oversimplifying it, we are playing holdem with no flop, best two cards win period, with one betting round. There are antes.

We are only dealt KK or QQ and we know our opponent is only dealt AA or 72o. The player with AA seems to have a huge advantage.

If we are first to act we can never value bet because we allow him to play his hand perfectly. He will never call and only raise or fold. He will always raise AA, and maybe even sometimes 72o. To what frequency we can only guess. Even if we check he is again left with the upper hand because he alone will know the frequency he will bluff.

If we are second to act we will never raise his bets, but rather be forced to call sometimes, most likely an inaccurate amount.

The guy with AA or 72o knows whether he is ahead or behind at all times, and therefore his decisons are much much easier. I don't see why this would be any different with a flop turn and river, but I'm not positive.

Okay thats it for now questions can go here. Feel free to shoot me down.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Join the FTR Poker Forum to disable these banners and start posting!
zook
Old 08-03-2007, 08:26 PM     Post subject: Re: ISF Theorem #2 (permalink)  
zook's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,676
zook
Quote:
Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan
when I was hi yesterday from some horrible weed
lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan
Given Heisenburg's uncertainty principle
LOL

Quote:
Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan
{everything else}
good stuff
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-03-2007, 08:39 PM #3 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
When you apply ISF theorem hands like this begin to show up.

This is essentially a bluff

Seat 1: bouh ($660.60 in chips)
Seat 2: heybude ($850.85 in chips)
heybude: posts small blind $2
bouh: posts big blind $4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to heybude [Kc As]
heybude: raises $8 to $12
bouh: raises $40 to $52
heybude: calls $40
*** FLOP *** [Jh Kd Qd]
bouh: bets $76
heybude: calls $76
*** TURN *** [Jh Kd Qd] [Ad]
bouh: checks
heybude: bets $172
bouh: calls $172
*** RIVER *** [Jh Kd Qd Ad] [6d]
bouh: checks
heybude: bets $550.85 and is all-in
bouh: folds

This is actually both ISF theorem and Yeti Theorem combined.

Seat 1: heybude ($486 in chips)
Seat 2: Omnipotent ($751 in chips)
Omnipotent: posts small blind $2
heybude: posts big blind $4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to heybude [9d Th]
Omnipotent: raises $8 to $12
heybude: calls $8
*** FLOP *** [2s 3d 2c]
heybude: checks
Omnipotent: bets $20
heybude: raises $36 to $56
Omnipotent: raises $92 to $148
heybude: raises $326 to $474 and is all-in
Omnipotent: folds
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
bode
Old 08-03-2007, 10:11 PM #4 (permalink)  
bode's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: May 2006
Location: slow motion
Posts: 4,270
bode is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via Skype™ to bode
i would think the ISF theorem wouldnt apply as much to HU as it would 6max or FR because the HU opening ranges are soooo wide.
Quote:
eeevees are not monies yet...they are like baby monies.
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-03-2007, 10:11 PM #5 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bode-ist
i would think the ISF theorem wouldnt apply as much to HU as it would 6max or FR because the HU opening ranges are soooo wide.
Yeah its a lot harder but it still works.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-03-2007, 10:15 PM #6 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
One other application to the theorem is if you can't put your opponent on a range than its better to try to play your hand for its own value (unless of course you just think hes FOS).
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
sauce123
Old 08-03-2007, 10:20 PM #7 (permalink)  
sauce123's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dizzy
Posts: 2,405
sauce123 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sauce123
two thumbs way up
I got more flava than fruitstripe gum
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-03-2007, 10:22 PM #8 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by sauce123
two thumbs way up
says Sulsky and Friends At The Movies
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Numbr2intheWorld
Old 08-03-2007, 10:54 PM #9 (permalink)  
Numbr2intheWorld's Avatar
Moderator

Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,561
Numbr2intheWorld will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bode-ist
i would think the ISF theorem wouldnt apply as much to HU as it would 6max or FR because the HU opening ranges are soooo wide.
Actually i find that in HU it applies well when there's a lot of 3-betting. When Danny was telling me about his theorem he was playing HU and the perfect hand came up to explain.

ISF raised and opponent called.

Flop was Q93. two tone

opp check, He bet, opp c/r. Since ISF knew that this certain opp would 3-bet, 99, QQ, and AQ, and that he would only stack off with those hands, Q9, and 33, ISF floated and shoved over a turn blank where the opp had not even close to good odds to call with an FD.

ISF scoops a nice pot.

It's kind of the same reasoning behind being very aggro when comeone limp/calls in the SB.
Check out my blog http://suited-aces.com
 
Reply With Quote
Da GOAT
Old 08-04-2007, 10:48 AM #10 (permalink)  
Da GOAT's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dublin
Posts: 4,308
Da GOAT
Nice work ISF, also nice example by Massimo too.
Jman: every time the action is to you, it's an opportunity for you to make the perfect play.
 
Reply With Quote
Galapogos
Old 08-04-2007, 05:29 PM #11 (permalink)  
Galapogos's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: The Loser's Lounge
Posts: 2,322
Galapogos is just really niceGalapogos is just really niceGalapogos is just really niceGalapogos is just really niceGalapogos is just really nice
I think you're right, the theorem is basically simple and understood by a lot of players. But I think you do an excellent job of explaining it, like in the AA/72o guy example.


Quote:
Originally Posted by sauce123
I don't get why you insist on stacking off with like jack high all the time.
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-04-2007, 05:35 PM #12 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galapogos
I think you're right, the theorem is basically simple and understood by a lot of players. But I think you do an excellent job of explaining it, like in the AA/72o guy example.
You're right, its understood by most players on some level but when you really get what it is, the applications are vast.

The AA/72o example was actually something theoretical about "strength of range," that, because it is so hard to define, i ended up defining as the amount of "nut" hands you have, with nut being the amount of hands you will stack off with. The AA/72o example shows why it MAY be better to simply have a super strong hand in your range and a bad one than two strong ones (well having the first at least makes decisions much easier and allows us to have control of the game)
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
silu73
Old 08-04-2007, 09:52 PM #13 (permalink)  
silu73's Avatar
Full House

Join Date: May 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,009
silu73
Off topic: Omnipotent is a raising monkey and he bluffs waaaaay too often. Your HU game must have been fun.
Reply With Quote
|~|ypermegachi
Old 08-04-2007, 09:58 PM #14 (permalink)  
|~|ypermegachi's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: emo-kid
Posts: 3,580
|~|ypermegachi
excellent post! thanks.

in other words, i think what you're explaining is how to exploit the gap concept in cash games.
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-04-2007, 10:30 PM #15 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by silu_nz
Off topic: Omnipotent is a raising monkey and he bluffs waaaaay too often. Your HU game must have been fun.
I found him to actually to be a pretty good player, but i was playing flawlessly.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
wufwugy
Old 08-04-2007, 11:01 PM #16 (permalink)  
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,660
wufwugy is a name known to allwufwugy is a name known to allwufwugy is a name known to allwufwugy is a name known to allwufwugy is a name known to allwufwugy is a name known to all
I wanna play flawlessly
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-04-2007, 11:23 PM #17 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by wufwugy
I wanna play flawlessly
Your avatars ass is flawless.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Vi-Zer0Skill
Old 08-05-2007, 06:18 AM #18 (permalink)  
Vi-Zer0Skill's Avatar
Reagan's Kid
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,739
Vi-Zer0Skill is on a distinguished road
Just another FTR member who appreciates when good poker players take the time to write something that can greatly improve others' understanding of the game. Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carroters
Ambition is fucking great, but you're trying to dig up gold with a rocket launcher and are going to blow the whole lot to shit unless you refine your tools
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-05-2007, 11:26 PM #19 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Just some more notes as I co me across examples more.

If you have called pre flop and you see an AQ7 flop, most good players will play much tighter and passive on this flop because his opponent, who raised pre, has a range way ahead of us. This example is at the very least subconsciously known by all of us. However,flops like KQx,KJx,AJx,KTx,ATx, QJx, and even QTx are all great candidates as well for being the aggressor as a preflop raiser. Feel free to peel off on these boards a lot because of this.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
sauce123
Old 08-06-2007, 08:11 AM #20 (permalink)  
sauce123's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dizzy
Posts: 2,405
sauce123 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sauce123
heres the Sauce theorem- DONT FOLD TOP SET EVER PLZ THANKS
I got more flava than fruitstripe gum
 
Reply With Quote
bjsaust
Old 08-06-2007, 09:00 AM #21 (permalink)  
bjsaust's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ballarat, Australia
Posts: 5,842
bjsaust is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to bjsaust
Hmm, this explains why I make some of the moves I do, when I couldnt have put it into words myself.

The classic example from my play is say in a HU game I hit middle or bottom pair on a 2 tone flop, and a c/c both flop and turn, then the 3rd flush card hits the river. I still only have a low pair, but I put in a solid river bet, because a flush draw probably makes up the majority of my 'range' given my betting pattern.
Just playing to improve.
 
Reply With Quote
gingerwizard
Old 08-06-2007, 11:30 AM #22 (permalink)  
gingerwizard's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,815
gingerwizard is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill
Just another FTR member who appreciates when good poker players take the time to write something that can greatly improve others' understanding of the game. Thanks!
QFT

Great post ISF. Think I should read the SHNL forum more often
This is not my signature. I just write this at the bottom of every post.
 
Reply With Quote
Rondavu
Old 08-06-2007, 12:00 PM #23 (permalink)  
Rondavu's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,053
Rondavu
It's gold Jerry
It's not what's inside that counts. Have you seen what's inside?
Internal organs. And they're getting uglier by the minute.
 
Reply With Quote
Numbr2intheWorld
Old 08-06-2007, 07:16 PM #24 (permalink)  
Numbr2intheWorld's Avatar
Moderator

Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,561
Numbr2intheWorld will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by sauce123
heres the Sauce theorem- DONT FOLD TOP SET EVER PLZ THANKS
Check out my blog http://suited-aces.com
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 08-07-2007, 05:18 AM #25 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
I'm really happy with the results of this post.

Ash just made a post in which he turned TT into a bluff with good logic given opponents range and given the fact he normally never bets KK-TT on this paticular flop.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-58645.htm

While it may not of been correct it was an awesome thought of a bet and it definetely is moving in the thinking direction you want to go in.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
jmontis
Old 11-22-2007, 11:45 PM #26 (permalink)  
Full House

Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,296
jmontis
It's brilliant ISF

I had a theory from watching people play 25-50 NL. Good players with strong hands let their opponents have free cards. This isn't exactly profound poker wisdom, it's well known, but you don't need the stone cold nuts to let your opponent catch something to pay your AA/set off.
take your ego out of the equation and judge the situation dispassionately
 
Reply With Quote
Technooo
Old 01-07-2008, 11:21 AM #27 (permalink)  

Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 45
Technooo
Damn this post is awesome, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around it because I usually don't think in ranges and such (I try to stay away from headaches and good players as a rule)

So what you're saying is that if you think your opponent thinks you're ahead, bet more often, amirite lol?

So if my name is Daniel N. and I'm known for the ability to bluff any two cards, it becomes my job to bet retarded flops like

Th 9d 2c

because my opponent thinks I might have it

WHEN I'M REALLY HOLDING KQ and have gobs of outs.

mindgames, son.
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-07-2008, 02:17 PM #28 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
T92 isn't a super great flop to cbet, though it's good, there are much better.

I appreciate the appreciation (lol), but I do think you don't completely get it, when your game gets to a level where you're analyzing ranges rather than playing unorganized guessing games you'll get it more.

AND it's much much more extensive than flop cbetting.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Keilah
Old 01-17-2008, 11:50 PM #29 (permalink)  
Keilah's Avatar
Full House

Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Northern BC, Canada
Posts: 658
Keilah
Oh, I get it. So instead of playing jsut your hand against the opponent's range, you play the range your opponent puts you on vs the range you put your opponent on.
When thinking like this, do you give more weighting to the hand you actually have?
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-18-2008, 01:01 AM #30 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keilah
Oh, I get it. So instead of playing just your hand against the opponent's range, you play the range your opponent puts you on vs the range you put your opponent on.
When thinking like this, do you give more weighting to the hand you actually have?
Well put.

Hmmm, I think from my own experience and my experience talking to good players is that this isn't really the case. When I'm doing any move I'm always thinking about every possible hand I could show up with here, and there isn't much focus on my own hand. But I mean of course if your playing your own hand a certain way its part of your range, and likely one of the most likely hands in your range, so in that sense I say the answer is yes, but I think people should never really focus as much on the hand they have as much as they probably do.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
sauce123
Old 01-18-2008, 08:25 AM #31 (permalink)  
sauce123's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dizzy
Posts: 2,405
sauce123 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sauce123
ISF theorem?


POKERSTARS GAME #14638439109: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) - 2008/01/18 - 02:30:11 (ET)
Table 'Oriola' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: petey989 ($531.35 in chips)
Seat 2: krmont22 ($600 in chips)
Seat 3: Kanoa_Style ($598.05 in chips)
Seat 4: Sauce123 ($785.65 in chips)
Seat 5: Blazed187 ($600 in chips)
Seat 6: smnrgg81 ($1250.70 in chips)
petey989: posts small blind $3
krmont22: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sauce123 [8s 9s]
Kanoa_Style: folds
Sauce123: raises $12 to $18
Blazed187: raises $60 to $78
smnrgg81: folds
petey989: calls $75
krmont22: folds
Sauce123: calls $60
*** FLOP *** [As 3c Kd]
petey989: checks
Sauce123: checks
Blazed187: checks
*** TURN *** [As 3c Kd] [6c]
petey989: checks
Sauce123: checks
Blazed187: checks
*** RIVER *** [As 3c Kd 6c] [Ah]
petey989: checks
Sauce123: bets $707.65 and is all-in
Blazed187: folds
petey989: folds
Sauce123 collected $237 from pot
Sauce123: shows [8s 9s] (a pair of Aces)
I got more flava than fruitstripe gum
 
Reply With Quote
Da GOAT
Old 01-18-2008, 10:21 AM #32 (permalink)  
Da GOAT's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dublin
Posts: 4,308
Da GOAT
i dunno if it is sauce but its obv nobody has an A or K, guess your repping AJs/Axs or weakly played AQ
Jman: every time the action is to you, it's an opportunity for you to make the perfect play.
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-18-2008, 12:11 PM #33 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
not really isf theorem
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
gabe
Old 01-18-2008, 01:49 PM #34 (permalink)  
gabe's Avatar
Moderator

Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: trying to live
Posts: 7,964
gabe is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to gabe
isf theorem only works if your opponents read you for what you think your range is
Reply With Quote
Genitruc
Old 01-18-2008, 04:48 PM #35 (permalink)  
Genitruc's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,463
Genitruc is an unknown quantity at this point
sauce is repping a tricky 33 or 66 but I'd doubt anyone has an ace here so it doesn t really matter
when the vpip's are high and the value bets are like razors, who can be safe?
 
Reply With Quote
sauce123
Old 01-18-2008, 05:47 PM #36 (permalink)  
sauce123's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dizzy
Posts: 2,405
sauce123 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sauce123
zzzzz "repping"
I got more flava than fruitstripe gum
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-18-2008, 06:24 PM #37 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by gabe
isf theorem only works if your opponents read you for what you think your range is
Yeah I noted that somewhere.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ISF
1. Our range is entirely dependent on what our opponent thinks our range is. Therefore a fish is not putting us on much of a range and all we can really do is think on the 1st level. We have a hand that is beating his range then we bet/call, if we dont then we fold/(call if we are drawing or since we are ahead of some and pot odds dictate).

I'm wondering what you and Ben think of ISF theorem in general? I feel like its a pretty fundamental concept to becoming a good poker player, but I'm afraid I'm wrong.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-18-2008, 06:32 PM #38 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
I think I may revise this there are some flaws in some of the reasoning.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
sauce123
Old 01-18-2008, 08:48 PM #39 (permalink)  
sauce123's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dizzy
Posts: 2,405
sauce123 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sauce123
i mean, it seems kind of obvious to me?
I got more flava than fruitstripe gum
 
Reply With Quote
sauce123
Old 01-18-2008, 08:50 PM #40 (permalink)  
sauce123's Avatar
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dizzy
Posts: 2,405
sauce123 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sauce123
like if i CC with A8s to a UTG+1 range

and a 2s 4s 9c flops and it goes check check (i have no FD)

im prob betting any turn except an ace which im check/calling
I got more flava than fruitstripe gum
 
Reply With Quote
Warpe
Old 01-18-2008, 09:07 PM #41 (permalink)  
Warpe's Avatar
Moderator

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Canuckistan
Posts: 3,905
Warpe is a jewel in the roughWarpe is a jewel in the roughWarpe is a jewel in the roughWarpe is a jewel in the rough
Quote:
Originally Posted by sauce123
i mean, it seems kind of obvious to me?
It is kinda obvious to people that play ranges, but I think there's a whackload of players that don't think in those terms (even though they should). That's why I think it's valuable - it makes players think in terms of putting opps on ranges and adapting their play accordingly. Most ABC players don't bluff nearly enough, imo, and this gives some kind of basis for ramping it up.

My only question is whether it has ever been stated elsewhere differently somewhere in the poker literature? If not, then props to ISF.
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-19-2008, 05:29 AM #42 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by sauce123
i mean, it seems kind of obvious to me?
Quote:
1. It's so obvious they don't understand why it needs to be explained.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Mas Redondo
Old 01-20-2008, 07:53 AM #43 (permalink)  

Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 8
Mas Redondo
this is a much better way of explaining a leveled thinking concept i was told once and never really grasped..

level 1 - What do i have?
level 2 - What does my opponent have?
level 3 - What does my opponent think i have? - ISF therom?
level 4 - What does my opponent think i think he has?

Its alot to rap your head around unless you've been..
1. working on reading your opponents alot already
2. working on bluffing as a representation of a given hand rather than just the thought that your opponent doesnt have shit.

putting the 2 together and acting accordingly is the theorem right? and would put you in an immensly powerful position as a poker player. It turns bluffing into a winning play instead of a half hearted hope at glory as it is for most of us when we start.
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-20-2008, 05:01 PM #44 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Mas Redondo,

ISF theorem is a lot more about understanding range equities than what you said, but what you did say is correct.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Ragnar4
Old 01-21-2008, 04:09 PM #45 (permalink)  
Ragnar4's Avatar
Full House

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Billings, Montana
Posts: 1,284
Ragnar4 will become famous soon enoughRagnar4 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via MSN to Ragnar4
Doesn't this mean by extension that: If your range is ahead of your opponents range, you should be willing to call in marginal spots more often, and if your opponents range is ahead of yours you should be willing to fold in marginal spots more often. Marginal being defined as 2nd pair, bottom 2 on co-ordinated board, shove with QQ over a 3 bet etc etc.
The older I get, the more I start wondering; Just what in the hell is going on here?
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-21-2008, 05:05 PM #46 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragnar4
Doesn't this mean by extension that: If your range is ahead of your opponents range, you should be willing to call in marginal spots more often, and if your opponents range is ahead of yours you should be willing to fold in marginal spots more often. Marginal being defined as 2nd pair, bottom 2 on co-ordinated board, shove with QQ over a 3 bet etc etc.
No, those spots involve your hand against their range. Although, often versus good players when you have the top of the range and forced with a call or fold spot you should call and when you have the bottom of your range you should often fold. But these aren't hard and fast rules.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
Ash256
Old 01-21-2008, 05:14 PM #47 (permalink)  
4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 1,760
Ash256 will become famous soon enoughAsh256 will become famous soon enough
Is this ISF Theorem?

You haven't been 3betting light, and you 3bet from MP w/ 99. Flop comes T62 and you CRAI.
 
Reply With Quote
Genitruc
Old 01-21-2008, 05:55 PM #48 (permalink)  
Genitruc's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,463
Genitruc is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ash256
Is this ISF Theorem?

You haven't been 3betting light, and you 3bet from MP w/ 99. Flop comes T62 and you CRAI.
I think that's the "strangeplayTheorem"
when the vpip's are high and the value bets are like razors, who can be safe?
 
Reply With Quote
IowaSkinsFan
Old 01-21-2008, 06:00 PM #49 (permalink)  
IowaSkinsFan's Avatar
Straight Flush

Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,148
IowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enoughIowaSkinsFan will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ash256
Is this ISF Theorem?

You haven't been 3betting light, and you 3bet from MP w/ 99. Flop comes T62 and you CRAI.
Wow I'm really glad I made this post, because it allows me to see flaws in peoples thinking.

Explaining ISF theorem normally involves saying "my range in his view is likely this, his range is that, so I bet/c/r/shove."

This isn't really ISF theorem. You've gotten part of it somewhat right, you have a tight range so you play it aggressively. BUT note you need to have the idea that your opponent thinks this as well. Also, see how you didn't even consider your opponents range? Your opponents range is very important here. Some people don't call threebets light at all, so surely if your opponent was only calling threebets with AK, TT+, this play would be horrible. Now if he's calling lightly, it's not horrible, but a lot of this hand can be explained by equity, and this play likely isn't good unless there is super aggressive spewy history.
Check out the new blog!!!
 
Reply With Quote
chardrian
Old 01-21-2008, 06:24 PM #50 (permalink)  
chardrian's Avatar
I rarely,if ever, get pms

Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,524
chardrian is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to chardrian
I've stolen this hand from the MTT section, but is this the ISF theorem?

First level, about the 15th hand or so. No read on the villain. How did I do? When he 3bets the flop that small I'm thinking he either has 33, AT, AA or air here. Is my river check okay? Really, any bet on the river commits me if he check-raises all in. The way he played it I can't see him calling with much on the river if he doesn't have me beat.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

saw flop|saw showdown

UTG+1 (t10000)
MP1 (t9775)
MP2 (t9000)
MP3 (t10775)
CO (t10600)
Hero (t9925)
SB (t10225)
BB (t9775)
UTG (t9925)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9 , T .
UTG calls t50, 2 folds, MP2 calls t50, 2 folds, Hero calls t50, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: (t225) 9 , 3 , T (4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets t225, MP2 folds, Hero raises to t700, BB folds, UTG raises to t1300, Hero calls t600.

Turn: (t2825) 7 (2 players)
UTG bets t2850, Hero calls t2850.

River: (t8525) 5 (2 players)
Dealer: UTG, it's your turn. You have 15 seconds to act
Dealer: Player UTGhas requested TIME
UTG checks, Hero checks.

To me, villain's range on that flop is JQ, 33, 99 and TT (both unlikely), JJ-AA, AT, and air.

By the turn since we really are only worried about 33 there
and our opp has committed so much of his stack + he likely has a hand (KK or AA) that he'll stack off with, we push.
http://chardrian.blogspot.com
come check out my training videos at pokerpwnage.com
 
Reply With Quote
Reply
Latest Poker News
KoRnholio Old 05-26-2012, 03:08 PM    Australia Legalized Online Poker coming up in next 6 to 12 Months
According to an email sent out by Mark Bryan, a gaming analyst at Merrill Lynch, the Australian government plans to legalize online poker sometime in the next six to 12 months. This move will coincide ...

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT. The time now is 09:20 AM.


FTR Testimonials

All content
© FlopTurnRiver.com
Advertising  |   Partners  |   Testimonials  |   T&C  |   Contact Us  |   FTR News & Press  |   Site Map  |   Search FTR

Full Tilt  |   Titan Poker  |   UltimateBet  |   Poker Stars  |   Ladbrokes Bonus  |   Sportsbook  |   Cake Poker  

Play Texas Holdem Online, Online Texas Holdem Strategy, & Poker Forum
This is not a gambling website.