To play poker online successfully and effectively, you need to understand the factors that can make or break your round. When your opponent’s hand is unknown, there are several ways to get an idea of what they may have.

This is where equity realization comes into play – utilizing it is a great way to improve your skillset and take you to the next level. Read on to discover why this process is crucial for formulating an efficient poker strategy, as well as to learn some poker tips along the way.

What is equity realization?

So, what is equity realization? Firstly, it’s important to understand raw equity, which is the average percentage of the pot that a hand expects to win. More specifically, it takes into consideration the opponent’s range.

It’s easy to get carried away when holding a strong hand, even when it doesn’t guarantee a win. Comparing your hand to an opponent’s potential hand is an important method to play profitably since it helps you to take calculated risks. For example, if the dealer places a 2, 2, 7, jack and queen, while you’re holding a 2 and 9, you need to weigh up your probabilities of winning. Yes, you have a three-of-a-kind, but it’s important to note that your opponents have the range of a full house – which is far higher on the hand rankings.  

Equity realization is the percentage a hand can win based on its raw equity and all the post-flop variables. By implementing this process, you’re giving yourself a solid foundation for success.

However, the rise of online poker means millions are playing worldwide. Some play aggressively, while others don’t. Be sure to remember that players bluff and may pretend to be holding the highest-ranking hand available. Understanding your opponents’ betting behavior is a great way to understand players’ strategies.

How to work out your hand’s equity

Your hand’s equity should influence your poker strategy – not all the time, but most of it. Remember that it’s important to maintain a level of spontaneity to keep your opponents guessing. However, if your hand’s equity is low, you should generally fold. On the other hand, you should continue your involvement in the round if your equity is high.

Working out your hand’s equity requires taking several factors into consideration. These include range, skill, stacks and strength of hand.

Range

This coincides with your positioning around a poker table. The player with the strongest range has the highest equity, allowing them to be the most aggressive when betting. When defending your big blind, there’s more chance of having a high equity when facing a player who raised on the button than an opponent positioned under the gun.

Skill

Playing online poker for real money exposes you to thousands of players, each with their own experience and skill set. Even if you already know how to play poker, each round requires careful thought. Understanding the abilities of your opponents is an important part of equity realization.

It’s essential to make mental notes of players’ behavior throughout the whole game. If the opponents you’re facing in the round haven’t been utilizing continuation bets frequently on the flop, you then have a higher equity than those who do it often. It’s easy to spot a player only betting when they have a strong hand – make sure you don’t fall into this trap.

A player’s ability is measured by their betting behavior. Knowing when to check, bet or fold is crucial to a fruitful game. Online poker games can go on for several hours, meaning patience and knowing when to strike are key.

Stacks

Understanding stacks is another great indicator of your hand’s equity. Calculating stacks is the process of dividing the pot by the shortest stack involved in the hand.

Overall, the higher your stack-to-pot ratio, the greater your equity.

Strength of hand

Generally, the stronger your hand, the higher your equity. However, with so many playability variables to dissect, it’s important to play smart when holding a strong hand. Remember, there are other hand combinations in contention; you’ll need to remember what hands can beat you and anticipate the possibilities of that happening.

Furthermore, the closer the cards are together, the higher the equity will be. Why? Because before the dealer places cards down, you have a comparatively higher chance of a straight (and so on.) The same applies to a flush when holding two cards of the same suit.

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