Poker Math That Matters

At the Table
A Bit of Memory
117
Up to this point, I've used very few methods that require any
memory. However, there are a few situations that come up very
frequently where it will benefit you to commit a few things to
memory. Mostly this consists of preflop scenarios and hands
that clash on a given flop. Memorizing these situations will just
save you energy when playing in real time.
Table 9 shows situations that are good to memorize when
estimating your equity preflop. This is useful information if
you're going to be getting all-in preflop. Note the unpaired
hands in the examples are all offsuit holdings. When you hold a
suited hand instead of an offsuit hand, you're preflop equity
generally increases by about 4%.
Table 9. All-in preflop equity for hand groups.
Situation Example Equities
Overcard vs. 2 middle cards A8o vs. QJo 57% vs. 43%
Overcard vs. 1 middle card ATo vs. Q7o 65% vs. 35%
2 overcards vs. 2 under cards 55 vs. AKo 55% vs. 45%
Pair vs. 1 overcard 88 vs. A2o 70% vs. 30%
Pair vs. 2 undercards KK vs. 87o 82% vs. 18%
Pair vs. 1 undercard AA vs. AKo 93% vs. 7%
Overpair vs. underpair AA vs. 55 81% vs. 19%
Another good thing to commit to memory is strong preflop hands
compared to strong preflop ranges. Again, this is useful when
you're going to be getting all-in preflop. Many times after
you've reraised with a hand like JJ, someone will shove over
you. You need to think about their range to estimate your equity