There are two ways to win the pot in poker. Either you showdown the best hand or you bet enough to get your opponent(s) to fold their hands. Calculating the chances of forcing the other players to fold and give you the pot is something we call “Fold Equity”. Here is a simply example.
You are on the button in a limit Hold’em game. All players fold to you and you have 55, often beginning players will simply call the big blind; they will limp in. If a five hits the flop-jackpot! If not, then they can toss the hand away and wait for the next deal. However, let’s suppose we could see the hole cards of the blinds. The small blind has 96o and the big blind has 73o. If you raise with your hand, both blinds are likely to fold and you win the pot right there. You see by simply calling the big blind, you have forfeited the possibility of one or both of the blinds folding; you have given up the fold equity.
If you do simply limp in than any flop with a 9, 7 or 6 beats you or if the flop is AJ10 and either blind bets, you have to fold. Any bet from either blind, they get to act first, will force you to fold useless one of the two remaining fives has hit the flop. A raise gives you the chance at winning the pot or narrowing the field. Fold equity is only gained if you raise.
One more point, fold equity can be a very complicated calculation in pot limit and no limit betting. The point is that taking fold equity into consideration before you bet is always a consideration to the complete poker player.
Read more about Fold Equity in this thread on our online poker forum.
-This is Beginner’s Poker Blog Post #71
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