What Is Fold Equity and Why Does It Matter?

Like it or not, playing poker is all about making the most calculated move, even if it means folding. However, despite being in this situation, all is not lost.

If you’ve been hitting the felt for some time, you’ve probably heard about the term “fold equity.”

This guide will give you a rundown of what it is and how it can be used in poker to help you improve your position. Read on.

• What Is Fold Equity?
• Fold Equity in Poker Tournaments
• Online Poker Rooms
• Conclusion
• FAQ

What Is Fold Equity?

Fold equity refers to how likely it is that your opponent will fold if you bet or raise them. The equity changes based on your actions and the current size of the pot. For example, if there’s 25% equity that the player across you will fold at a $100 pot, then they have a 25% fold equity.

If you’ve ever tried to predict how likely a specific opponent is to fold based on your next move, you’ve dabbled in fold equity.

Players chasing the optimal poker strategy will refer to fold equity in every street. In case the cards don’t fall your way and you don’t get a high-ranking hand, calculating fold equity for your opponents can help you make the best possible decision regarding expected value.

To calculate the chances of your opponent folding, you have to take into account their previous actions.

Your opponent’s equity in the hand is just the percentage of the pot that they believe they will win on average on the river. To be more precise, it is the percentage equity of their range.

Fold equity is often used to calculate your total equity (TE): TE = fold equity + hand equity.

Fold Equity in Poker Tournaments

In tournaments, players use fold equity more often, especially when they’re about to hit the rail. Being short-stacked means having to steal blinds, as it can be a lifesaver — especially when the blind levels increase and every hand matters. In such moments, you’ll have to make do with worse-than-average hands.

Imagine playing in an online sit-and-go, with the chip leader left with around 40 BBs and the average stack size being half that. This is the part of the tournament where you need to either shove or fold.

Calculating fold equity could help you grab those chips and breathe more easily.

Best Poker Rooms To Play Online Tournaments

My list of the best US poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2023:

1. BetOnline Poker
2. Ignition Poker
3. Everygame Poker
4. Juicy Stakes Poker
5. Americas Cardroom
6. Bovada Poker
7. BlackChip Poker
8. SportsBetting Poker

Conclusion

To sum up, fold equity is something you’ve probably already considered without even realizing it. Making assumptions about your opponent’s moves is natural, but it’s always better to have your predictions converted into actual numbers.

We did the grunt work to help you understand the math behind fold equity, which could improve your game on a per-hand basis and assist you in making a profit long-term.

Make sure to think about fold equity the next time you play poker, especially if you participate in a poker tournament and find yourself in an unfavorable position (short-stacked, with late blind levels).

FAQs