Here are chapters 16–20 of our Easy Game summary:
Chapter 16: Full Ring vs. Shorthanded and Positional Protection
In chapter 16, Andrew Seidman argues that differences between full ring and shorthanded games are often overstated. Structurally, once early-position players fold in full ring, the situation resembles a shorthanded table. The real distinction lies in perception of ranges and how players respond to that perception.
Full ring environments are viewed as tighter. Because early-position opens signal strength, opponents give raises more respect. This creates opportunities to:
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Open slightly wider.
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Apply postflop pressure more effectively.
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Face fewer light 3-bets.
Seidman introduces positional protection—the idea that a strong perceived range reduces the likelihood of being attacked. Early-position raises in full ring receive more credit, offering protection from light aggression.
Adjustments are subtle:
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Open somewhat wider in tight contexts.
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Respect aggression more when it appears.
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Exploit how opponents interpret your range.
The core difference between formats is contextual, not structural. Success depends on adapting to perception dynamics rather than relying on format stereotypes.
Chapter 17: An Introduction to 3-Bet Pots
In chapter 17, Andrew Seidman outlines a simplified framework for 3-bet pots, particularly at small stakes where most players 3-bet too tightly.
Facing a 3-Bet Out of Position (OOP)
His primary guideline at 100bb stacks in heads-up pots:
Do not call 3-bets out of position.
Instead:
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4-bet for value with strong hands.
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Fold the rest.
Hands like TT and AQ often look strong but perform poorly against realistic 3-bet ranges. Equity shrinks quickly, overcards appear frequently, and reverse implied odds create difficult spots. If a 3-bet range is wide enough to call against, it is often wide enough to justify 4-betting instead.
Facing a 3-Bet In Position (IP)
Position changes the equation. Calling becomes viable because:
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You control pot size.
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You realize equity more effectively.
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Postflop decisions are easier.
Hands that perform best in position include:
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High-card holdings.
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Medium pairs.
Low suited connectors lose value in 3-bet pots due to reduced implied odds and tighter ranges.
The guiding principle is comparative equity: evaluate your hand against the weakest hands in the opponent’s 3-bet range.
3-Betting Yourself
At small stakes:
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Give opponents credit for tight 3-bets.
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3-bet aggressively for value against loose defenders.
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Fold strong-looking hands like JJ to extremely tight 3-bets when necessary.
The message is simplification: respect tight ranges and avoid marginal OOP calls.
Chapter 18: Dead Money versus Live Money
In chapter 18, Andrew Seidman clarifies that dead money exists only when fold equity exists. Chips in the pot are not automatically “dead.”
If an opponent will never fold, the money is entirely live and must be won at showdown.
Against passive players who raise only strong hands:
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There is little or no dead money.
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Bluffing and semi-bluffing become dangerous.
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Aggression relies purely on equity.
Against aggressive players who bluff frequently:
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Some portion of the pot may be dead.
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Additional pressure can force folds.
The key variable is fold frequency. Misjudging this leads to spew—justifying aggression simply because money is in the pot.
The adjustment is clear:
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Do not assume money is dead.
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Confirm that your opponent can fold.
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Avoid bluffing into ranges that will not release.
Understanding this distinction prevents reckless aggression.
Chapter 19: Equity Distributions
In chapter 19, Andrew Seidman explains that equity is not distributed evenly across hands. The strongest hands sit far above the rest, while most playable hands cluster closely together in value.
Key observations:
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AA and KK dramatically outperform other hands.
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Mid-tier hands (e.g., TT vs. 88) are closer in value than intuition suggests.
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Folding compresses equity gaps because weak hands are filtered out preflop.
As a result:
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Small perceived hand differences rarely justify large strategic deviations.
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TT is much closer in value to 88 than to QQ.
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Medium-strength hands often perform similarly against realistic ranges.
This uneven, top-heavy equity distribution encourages tighter preflop discipline. Premium hands deserve aggressive investment; many mid-strength hands do not warrant marginal calls—especially out of position.
The lesson is to avoid overestimating minor hand-strength edges and recognize how compressed middle equities truly are.
Chapter 20: Advanced Fold Equity Evaluation
In chapter 20, Andrew Seidman revisits fold equity in the context of playing against competent regulars. The simplified rules that work against weaker players often reverse against thinking opponents. Fold equity at higher levels depends less on obvious board factors and more on how your line is perceived.
Number of Players
Conventional logic says bluffing into multiple players reduces fold equity. While this is usually correct against weaker opponents, strong players recognize that multiway bluffs are rare. Because of that expectation, betting into several players can increase credibility.
Against observant regulars, a well-timed multiway bet may represent extreme strength precisely because it appears unlikely to be a bluff.
Board Texture
The typical heuristic is:
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Scare cards increase fold equity.
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Blank cards decrease it.
Against strong players, this dynamic can reverse.
Skilled opponents expect bluffs on obvious scare cards. When a dramatic overcard hits, aggression may look routine and attract calls. Conversely, on coordinated or uncomfortable boards where few players bluff, bets tend to be interpreted as value-heavy.
As a result:
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Bluffing obvious scare cards can lose effectiveness.
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Bluffing in spots where “nobody bluffs” can succeed.
Strong players fold where bluffs are rare and call where bluffs are common.
Stack-to-Pot Ratio (SPR) and Sizing
Advanced fold equity also involves manipulating bet sizing and SPR.
Competent players are sensitive to:
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Risk-to-reward ratios.
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Pot odds.
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Commitment thresholds.
Creative sizing can exploit this awareness:
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Small bets in large pots may resemble thin value.
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Slight over-shoves that offer reasonable odds can appear strongly value-weighted.
When sizing tells a believable story, fold equity increases—even in spots that look unconventional.
Image and History
Against regulars, image significantly influences fold equity. Past showdowns, bluffs, hero calls, and visible tendencies all shape expectations.
Advanced players track:
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Who has been over-bluffing.
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Who recently made disciplined folds.
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Who resists pressure.
Fold equity often depends on accumulated context rather than isolated board logic.
The Strategic Shift
Many regulars still follow simplified rules:
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Bluff scare cards.
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Avoid bluffing big pots.
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Avoid bluffing multiway.
These patterns become predictable. Exploiting strong players requires reversing obvious plays when logic supports it and bluffing where aggression is least expected.
The guiding principle is expectation management:
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Bluff where opponents assume bluffs are rare.
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Structure bets to resemble thin value rather than transparent polarization.
Advanced fold equity is less about fear cards and more about manipulating how your actions are interpreted.