Poker Tournament Strategy: Do You Know How the “X Factor” Affects You?

If you play tournaments, either sit and go or regular multi-table
tournaments of any kind, online or offline, you should be aware
what your “X Factor” is and what to do about it.

So what is this X Factor? It is an abbreviated name for your
stack relationship. OK, that really clears things up, doesn’t it?

Here is a simple equation to calculate your X Factor:

X = STACK SIZE / STARTING JAR

where, STACKSIZE is the size of your current stack and INITIALPOT is the
size of the pot at the beginning of the hand, once all the blinds and before
they are in the pot.

For example, let’s say the blinds are 100/200 with antes of 25, and
there are 8 players. That’s a total pot of 500 (100 + 200 + 200).

If your stack size is 5000, then your X value is 10 (5000 / 500).

If your stack size is 3000, X = 6, stack size 1000, X = 2, etc.

When you calculate your X, just use estimates (don’t worry about the
fractional accuracy). For example, the stack size of 2800 is “5 to 6”.

So why does this X factor matter? Basically, X represents how many
“rounds” we have left against the blinds and antes. spin around
be a general rule to do some important useful
tournament decisions. Here is the general guidance that X provides me:

x greater than 20

At this point we are on easy street, in great shape and can hold out,
take some calculated risks, get aggressive when we have a good
hand, good position or good option to bluff. We can afford to take
more opportunities, play a little looser when appropriate, mix up our game.

X from 15 to 20

At this point, we are in good shape, we can expect better hands,
better bluff opportunities and run some good cheating plays. However,
we should try to avoid playing more than 5 X in any hand, to
stay above an X of 10 (and avoid putting ourselves at undue risk).

X from 8 to 14

At this point, we should be tweaking a bit, protecting our stack
(and X), waiting for a good hand or bluff opportunity to come our way.

x less than 8

At this point, the size of our chip stack relative to the blinds is becoming critical.
When our X reaches a value from 5 to 7, it’s time to switch to “push/fold”
(Described below).

So we should be constantly tracking our X value, and taking the X
the value of our opponents in consideration while we keep track of our situation
in the game (to better predict opponents, as well as to guide our
own game).

The rules I present above are how I play, given my solid
tight/aggressive style (feel free to experiment and propose
your own X Factor rules, but these will put you “in the zone”).

Now when our X value falls below 8 I said we enter “push/fold”
Fashion. This is what I mean by an X of 7 and under and push/fold…

Push/fold is where we do one of two things: All-in or Fold. we go
all-in to push the other players out of these pots
giving them poor pot odds and forcing them to fold or enter
a confrontation with us.

When I think of push/fold mode, I treat it like
heads-up play as aggressive as possible. That’s because if I do
end up in a matchup, it will probably be against another player
who has a strong enough starting hand to call with bad pot odds
anyway (watch out for weak players, they’ll call you at any time).

With an X from 5 to 7, I’ll play any hand that has an ace and
any pair that is 5 or higher.

In the lower X’s, I will add all pairs and any two figures. If I
don’t take a decent starting hand, then it’s an instant fold.

No limping, no calling, no half way, it’s all-in
or is it a fold (there is only one exception, which I will discuss
below).

Every time the blinds go up, I immediately look at my stack size
against the new pot size and find out where my new stack X = 10
size limit will be, and if the new blinds/previously put me in
risk of push/fold mode.

For example, if the blinds go up and my new X-Factor is 7 or less,
I quietly begin my shift into push/fold mode.

Push/fold is basically a super strict and super aggressive extreme mode.
of operation. This strategy provides the best opportunity to obtain
return to the tournament using your remaining stack and the NL
Hold’em all-in moves in your favor (as long as you choose your shots
adequately).

If your X value drops and you don’t go into push/fold mode,
you just end up having your stack size eroded by blinds and antes to
the point that going all-in will change the behavior of your
opposition of having a “fold unless you have a big hand” to a
“Let’s pounce on them!” operating mode (probably too late to
you now).

By waiting too long to enter push/fold, you have lost your No Limit
power: you cannot harm or threaten anyone with an all-in move
more… a very dangerous place to be in this game… as a
toothless shark!!

Of course, if you don’t get some decent starting hands, at some
you’ll be forced to take your best shot anyway (something
would come no matter what).

I recommend taking that photo while you still have an X from 4 to 5
and can deal some damage, and preferably when you’re later
position (dealer button or cut). This will give you the
best chance to steal the blinds.

The only exception to entering push/fold mode on an X of 7 is
if I’m on the bubble (almost in the money), and other players are
in push/fold mode. Running things a round or two (until
an X of 5, ideally), has a higher chance of entering
the money by letting the other short-stacked players be eliminated
exit first (since they will probably also be in push/fold mode).

If you don’t see that kind of opportunity, you’ll probably have to
take your best shot when the next big blind comes around and see if
you can rebuild your position.

Of course, the X Factor is just one of many factors in the game that
should be noted, but provides an overview
framework that will help you better manage your tournament play.

I hope this information will be useful to you in your next tournament.
meeting.

Until next time, may the force of poker be with you!