Lesson 9. Tournaments: ICM

Lesson from the course

Advanced Poker Lessons

For active players: preflop architecture (3-bet/4-bet), stack planning and SPR, board textures and sizing, combinatorics and blockers, MDF/bluff ratios, field exploitation, ICM (tournaments), mental game

• Advanced Poker Lessons

  Back to the course

Course curriculum

• Lesson 1. Glossary: Abbreviations and Terms

  BB/SB, BTN/CO/UTG/MP, IP/OOP, RFI, 3-bet/4-bet, SPR, MDF, EV, GTO, ICM, Fold equity, Pot odds, Range, Blockers

• Lesson 2. Preflop Architecture

  Opening sizes, 3-bet, 4-bet. Out of position and in position rules. 3-bet guidelines against early/late positions

• Lesson 3. SPR and Stack Planning

  SPR < 3: ready for stack. SPR 3-6: selective barrels. SPR > 6: play for nuts. Control through sizing

• Lesson 4. Board Textures and Sizing

  Dry boards 25-33%, dynamic 50-75%, monotone/paired polarized bets. Board decision pattern

• Lesson 5. Combinatorics and Blockers

  Offsuit 16 combos, suited 4, pairs 6. Blockers reduce opponent combos. Bluff with ace-suited

• Lesson 6. MDF and Bluff Ratio

  MDF = Pot/(Pot+Bet). Bluff ratio ≈ Bet/(Pot+Bet). Call at least MDF frequency, select bluffs by sizing

• Lesson 7. Check-Raise and Barreling

  Check-raise: value + bluffs with blockers. Double/triple barrel on overcards. Abandon when turn strengthens opponent

• Lesson 8. Field Exploitation

  Microstakes: overfolds → bluff more, underbluffs → hero-call. Live: wide BB defense, big sizes, respect check-raise

• Lesson 10. Mental Game

  Goals: 2 technical + 1 emotional. Stop-tilt: pause, 4-7-8 breathing. 3 buyins/mistakes → 20 min break