ICM preflop question
Another ace-related question. I've noticed that preflop ICM spots heavlily prefer ace-high hands with quite a bit of additional suited and offsuit aces appearing compared to the similar ChipEV spots, while the number of lower hands, especially the suited connected ones, gets reduced.
What is the exact logic behind solvers making these changes under ICM pressure and how should one utilize this ace-high power in ICM postflop scenarios?
2 Replies
ICM makes it very hard for players other than the big stacks behind you to call your open. You get called a lot less behind and in particular get called a lot less by the big blind. Since you don't get postflop that often, playability matters less than in chipEV scenarios.
On the other hand, ICM calls for a substantial amount of 3betting, all-in and non-all in. Having an Ace reduces the probability of getting three-bet and increases your chances of just picking up the blinds.
There is no Ace-high power postflop, the power comes from preflop. Postflop, it's not great to be Ace-heavy and you have to adjust your ranges accordingly. But that's less of a concern when you just don't get to postflop that often.
It's mainly because of the ace blocker. If we're jamming we block tight calling ranges. If we're opening we block 3-bets and rejams.
Also suited aces specifically perform relatively well against tight ranges when we jam and get called.
