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Better explanation of "M" factor

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  1. therickbol therickbol is offline

    Christiana, TN
    United States

    Posts: 153
    Joined: Jul 06

    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:15pm)

    I have been playing poker for a little while now. Recently, I am playing lots of hands, reading lots of articles and books, and reading discussions. I have been quite successful so far and I feel like I get better every time I play. I still have a lot to learn though. That is why I continually try to read about as many different angles as I can. The only thing I have ran across so far that I still do not understand 100% (only because I havent found the good dicsussion of it yet) is the exact meaning and calculation of the "M" factor and how it effects the plays you make when the "M" factor is at a certain level. I know it has something to do with blinds to chip stack ratio. Would anybody mind helping me with a detailed explanation or pointing me in the direction of a good article about it? Thank you in advance.

    Rick
  2. mrbluesman mrbluesman is offline

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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:18pm) in reply to therickbol

    Check out the Harrington on Holdem book series...specifically volume 2.

    MrB
  3. THAY3R THAY3R is offline

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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:19pm) in reply to therickbol

    M = Blinds plus antes.

    It theoretically tells you how many rounds in the tourney you can go just folding and stay alive.

    When your M is low(say 5 or lower), that is when you need to start pushing alot.

    Harrington on Holdem covers the M quite well.
    225 
  4. therickbol therickbol is offline

    Christiana, TN
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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:33pm) in reply to THAY3R

    The ratio of your (chip stack):(SB+BB+Ante)? Is it all those things added together to form the ratio, therefore not just a ratio of (chip stack):(BB)?

    Thank you about the Harrington book. I wil def check it out. I have not read his 2nd or 3rd books yet. Know where there are any articles explaining it in detail?
    Thread Starter
  5. hunky hunky is offline

    London
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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:39pm) in reply to THAY3R

    Yes you really need to read Harrington for a proper explanation. Worth reading for a whole bunch of other stuff related to tournament play.

    But to spell it out...

    Say for example the blinds are at 1000/2000 and the antes are at 200. Every orbit (assuming you don't play a hand) will cost you 5000 chips (for a table of 10). So say you have 25,000 chips your M would be 5.. or you could survive 5 rounds before getting blinded out.
  6. ka$ino ka$ino is offline

    Omaha, NE
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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:47pm) in reply to therickbol

    M= your chipstack/[(antes*number of players at table)+BB+SB)]

    If you have a stack of 5000 chips and there are 10 players at your table, the blinds are 100/200 with an ante of 25 chips your M= 5000 / [(25*10)+300] = 9.09 so you could make it 9 orbits at this current level before you are blinded out.
     
  7. therickbol therickbol is offline

    Christiana, TN
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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 2:52pm) in reply to hunky

    Sweet. Thanks. I figured it was somwhere along those lines. But didnt know the exact formula. I appreciate the help.
    Thread Starter
  8. xcalibur1120 xcalibur1120 is offline

    Helena, AL
    United States

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    Jul 24th, 2006 (7/24/2006 4:32pm) in reply to therickbol

    Now the 2nd half of your question, how does it affect your play? Well this could be different for most people. Harrington seperates into 5 zones (in decreasing order ) Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Dead. I don't remember the specifics but,

    Green M>20
    Yellow M 13-20
    Orange M5-12
    Red M 2-5
    Dead M<2

    Basicly, it dictates what you can do with your stack. With a "green" stack, you can sit an wait all day for AA, KK if you so choose. In addition, you can still do things like resteal and make large bluffs, come over the top and force a small stack to call for his whole tourney etc, if you so choose. In the green zone, you can do whatever you want.

    When you get down into the yellow and orange zones, you may not be able to do things like resteal or raise a big stack's blind since you don't have much threaten him/her, so your options maybe somewhat constrained.

    Harrington says once you reach the "red Zone", you should push with just about any two cards, <span>if you are the first one in the pot</span> since you run the risk of going broke and the risk of picking up the blinds/antes (or doubling up) outweighs the risk of going broke/blinding yourself to death.

    This is a basic start and my understanding of it. But for a complete understanding of it like Mr.B says, just get Harrington Vol 2.

    Take care,
    Xcal
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