The Navigation of Your Opponents

For those of you unfamiliar with Morton's theorem, it describes certain multi-way situations based on particular pot sizes whereby player A, with a vulnerable holding (e.g. in hold'em top pair-big kicker), would prefer that an opponent correctly fold with a weak draw rather than call even without correct odds.

When these players call, it takes profit away from player A and gives it to other players in the hand that have stronger draws, like a flush draw or openended straight draw. Several circumstances describe a `protected pot'.

David Sklansky coined the phrase that refers to situations where it is extremely unlikely that any one opponent will be able to successfully bluff or represent a hand that they do not have". You might see a `protected pot' due to its large size, a large number of participants, a player being all-in, or perhaps just one calling-station.

So, once I bet and my left-hand opponent calls, neither my opponents nor I will make fancy bluff-raises because at least one player will foil any steal moves. A `protected pot' often allows a player to enter the pot safely for a single bet.

In a very soft game, once the pot becomes `protected', many folks call and chase tenuous draws. Not only does this nullify any efforts I might make to outplay my opponents, but it also creates pots that fall into the size range explained by Morton's theorem.

This problem appears more in loose-passive games that more regularly occur at lower limits than it does in tougher games. The predicament is most difficult when you are in early position, late position players are not aggressive and do not take advantage of their position. If they were aggressive, you would just check-raise more often.

the effects of a protected pot

describe a protected pot

manipulate the action

the particular Morton's theorem