In no-limit or pot-limitpoker, a player's M-ratio (also called "M number", "M factor"[1] or just "M") is a measure of the health of a player's chip stack as a function of the cost to play each round. In simple terms, a player can sit passively in the game, making only compulsory bets, for M laps of the dealer button before running out of chips. A high M means the player can afford to wait a high number of rounds before making a move. The concept applies primarily in tournament poker; in a cash game, a player can in principle manipulate his M at will, simply by purchasing more chips.
A player with a low M must act soon or be weakened by the inability to force other players to fold with aggressive raises.
For example, a player in an eight-player game with blinds of $50/$100, an ante of $10, and a stack of $2,300 has an M-ratio of 10:
That is, if the player only makes the compulsory bets, he will be "blinded out" of the game in 10 rounds, or 80 hands.
Dan Harrington studied the concept in great detail in Harrington on Holdem: Volume II The Endgame, [2] defining several "zones" in which the M-ratio may fall:[3]
Zone name
M-ratio
"Optimal" strategy
Green zone
M ≥ 20
Most desirable situation, freedom to play conservatively or aggressively as you choose[4]
Yellow zone
10 ≤ M < 20
Must take more risks,[3] hands containing small pairs and small suited connectors lose value
Orange zone
6 ≤ M < 10
Main focus is to be first-in whatever you decide to play, important to preserve chips
You are completely dependent on luck to survive. The only move is to push all-in into an empty pot
Effective Medit
Harrington further develops the concept to account for shortening tables, as is seen at the closing stages of multi-table tournaments. The M-ratio is simply multiplied by the percentage of players remaining at the table, assuming a ten-player table to be "full". [5]
Therefore, for a player with a "simple M ratio" of 9 at a five player table, the effective M is 4.5:
This means that although the player's simple M value places him in the orange zone, his effective M dictates a shift in playing style appropriate for the red zone. In essence, ten times the effective M denotes the expected number of hands a player can let pass before running out of chips.
ratio, number, redirects, here, military, vehicle, numbers, list, military, vehicles, model, number, limit, limit, poker, player, also, called, number, factor, just, measure, health, player, chip, stack, function, cost, play, each, round, simple, terms, player. m number redirects here For US military vehicle numbers see List of U S military vehicles by model number In no limit or pot limit poker a player s M ratio also called M number M factor 1 or just M is a measure of the health of a player s chip stack as a function of the cost to play each round In simple terms a player can sit passively in the game making only compulsory bets for M laps of the dealer button before running out of chips A high M means the player can afford to wait a high number of rounds before making a move The concept applies primarily in tournament poker in a cash game a player can in principle manipulate his M at will simply by purchasing more chips A player with a low M must act soon or be weakened by the inability to force other players to fold with aggressive raises The term was named after Paul Magriel Contents 1 Calculation 2 Effective M 3 See also 4 ReferencesCalculation editThe M ratio is calculated by the formula M stacksmall blind big blind total antes displaystyle M frac mbox stack mbox small blind mbox big blind mbox total antes nbsp For example a player in an eight player game with blinds of 50 100 an ante of 10 and a stack of 2 300 has an M ratio of 10 M 230050 100 10 8 2300230 10 displaystyle M frac 2300 50 100 10 times 8 frac 2300 230 10 nbsp That is if the player only makes the compulsory bets he will be blinded out of the game in 10 rounds or 80 hands Dan Harrington studied the concept in great detail in Harrington on Holdem Volume II The Endgame 2 defining several zones in which the M ratio may fall 3 Zone name M ratio Optimal strategyGreen zone M 20 Most desirable situation freedom to play conservatively or aggressively as you choose 4 Yellow zone 10 M lt 20 Must take more risks 3 hands containing small pairs and small suited connectors lose valueOrange zone 6 M lt 10 Main focus is to be first in whatever you decide to play important to preserve chipsRed zone 1 M lt 6 Your only move is to move all in or foldDead zone M lt 1 You are completely dependent on luck to survive The only move is to push all in into an empty potEffective M editHarrington further develops the concept to account for shortening tables as is seen at the closing stages of multi table tournaments The M ratio is simply multiplied by the percentage of players remaining at the table assuming a ten player table to be full 5 MEffective M Players10 displaystyle M mbox Effective M times left frac mbox Players 10 right nbsp Therefore for a player with a simple M ratio of 9 at a five player table the effective M is 4 5 MEffective 9 510 4 5 displaystyle M mbox Effective 9 times left frac 5 10 right 4 5 nbsp This means that although the player s simple M value places him in the orange zone his effective M dictates a shift in playing style appropriate for the red zone In essence ten times the effective M denotes the expected number of hands a player can let pass before running out of chips See also editQ ratio poker References edit PokerGreed com Understand what hands to play in a tournament 1 Accessed 2008 03 25 Harrington on Holdem The Endgame Poker Book Reviews Archived 2006 12 07 at the Wayback Machine a b Tournament No Limit Hold em Harrington s Zone System Poker Strategy PokerListings com Harrington on Holdem Volume II p129 Poker Tracker 4 Review Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M ratio amp oldid 1130916668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
