Pot geometry under ICM pressure
Hello, im still cash game pilled and trying to convert my thinking to understand tournaments a bit better.
In cash games I have learned that bet sizing across multiple streets is frequently with the intention of either A- getting to Showdown, or B- getting the whole stack in. Ive learned the river all in bet is so powerful with value (for max value) and for bluff (to maximize fold equity). And Ive learned its rarely correct to make a big bet OTR thats non-all in when all in isnt too much more (or is even 1.5x pot, 2x pot, etc).
Now, my question is does this theory still apply to poker Tournaments?
for example IP OTR with 150p behind, theres a sentiment that we should value bet 50p and bluff 150p. This seems obviously incorrect to me as it creates range imbalance.
I assume we want balanced ranges for each bet size we take.
In cash game, i would think betting 75p here is kind of a fish play, since it makes the XR so so painful, and there probably isnt too much elasticity btw the range that calls 75p and the range that calls 150p, and were probably just about as polarized either way.
But does that change at all for Tournaments? should I unwire my brain from thinking 50p and 150p are the only good size in this type of scenario? does 75p become better somehow simply because of ICM?
also 33p is something I wouldnt bet IP in cash because If i want show down i just check, and if i wanna polarize i bet bigger, and the possibility of getting Check-raised kills the EV of a thin value bet.
But is 33p IP OTR in tournament much more reasonable?
1 Reply
In ICM you can sometimes even bet 99 % of pot when you have 1 pot behind. 😀
As for small IP bets, I would start around half pot and larger. Not much sense going 33, even in ICM it would be pretty rare. And usually people do too many tiny river IP bets.