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Comfort level - Feeling comfortable is also important in poker!

Comfort is crucial. Not just in everyday life, but also when it comes to poker. Feeling at ease is the name of the game. While people value a certain level of comfort in their everyday lives, such as with cars, hotel rooms, vacations, or mobile devices like smartphones or tablets, poker primarily revolves around finding the right level and monetary amounts that a player must feel comfortable with. poker-6.com takes an in-depth look at the topic of "comfort level."

Definition Komfortlevel

In the realm of poker, the concept of "comfort level" refers to the threshold at which a player still feels at ease with the levels or amounts of money involved. Once the comfort level is surpassed, the player becomes uncertain, uncomfortable, and performs poorly. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule: a prime example being the Danish poker professional Gus Hansen, who may occasionally pull off a bluff worth over a million dollars with terrible cards, but this occurrence is far from the norm.

Find comfort level

The level of comfort becomes particularly evident when it comes to changes in levels and limits. Some players feel uncomfortable with blinds of $10/$20, while others only feel it at $100/$200. Still, others may always feel it when playing No Limit instead of Limit Poker. Regardless of where this limit lies, every player must try to recognize it early on. Once they have crossed it, they must take action. If the game noticeably worsens, it may be wise to stay at the lower level for even longer. To increase the difficulty, one could start by playing at multiple tables simultaneously. Later, with a larger bankroll, the climb can be attempted again.

There are also instances when a player is actually strong enough for the higher level but, after a prolonged downswing or encountering some bad beats with easier opponents and at lower levels, finds solace in their comfort zone. It is in this space that they can rebuild their self-confidence and alleviate the strain on their bankroll. Once they have rediscovered their A-game, they can then make their way back to their higher base level.

Players often have different comfort levels for live or online tournaments. It's also possible to experience varying levels of comfort across different online poker rooms.

Calculation of the comfort level

In his book "The Mathematics of Hold'em," poker pro Collin Moshman explores the concept of comfort level. The comfort level is closely linked to bankroll management, and delving into this topic mathematically can be quite intricate. Players can calculate their comfort level using the following formula:

Comfort level equals bankroll multiplied by win rate divided by variance (or standard deviation) squared.

As a result, the following emerges: a comfort level of 2 is aggressive, while 4 is more conservative. 3 is considered normal. Variations or standard deviations are automatically recorded by auxiliary programs such as PokerTracker or Hold'em Manager. In Limit Hold'em, the normal standard deviation is around 15 BB/100 for full ring tables and 17 BB/100 for 6-max tables. In No Limit Hold'em, the typical standard deviation values are 85 BB/100 for full ring tables and 95 BB/100 for shorthanded tables.

The bankroll can be calculated from the standard deviation using the following equation: Bankroll = Comfort level x Standard deviation squared divided by Winrate. With this formula, you can determine the amount of money needed to comfortably sustain your gambling activities based on your desired level of risk, the volatility of your games, and your overall win rate. It is crucial to consider the standard deviation as it measures the fluctuations in your results, allowing you to estimate the potential ups and downs in your bankroll. By incorporating the bankroll management strategy, you can mitigate risk and ensure a more sustainable approach to your gambling endeavors.

Winrate

The player's expected winnings, known as the win rate, depend on numerous factors. These factors include the limit being played, the type of game, the skill level of both the player and opponents, the number of tables the player can handle, and directly related to that, the number of hands the player can play in an hour. Through the win rate, a player can assess which limits, number of tables, or even which poker site yields the most profit and adjust their game accordingly. The win rate is also expressed in BB/100, just like the standard deviation. For instance, a win rate of 5BB/100 means that, on average, a player wins 5 Big Blinds every 100 hands.

Average

If the player wishes to calculate whether they are making more profit or loss, they can employ the use of the mean or standard deviation. The mean can be quickly calculated, representing the average value of profit or loss per hour. All one needs to do is divide the profit or loss by the number of hours played. However, the mean does not provide any information about the fluctuations. The player's performance can vary greatly from one hour to the next. The standard deviation is much more precise in this regard. It is calculated in the following manner: one calculates the deviations from the mean, then squares each individual deviation (to eliminate negative signs). By calculating the mean of the squared deviations (simply adding the squared deviations and dividing the sum by the number of deviations), this is referred to as variance. Lastly, the square root of the variance is taken, and this becomes the standard deviation. Ultimately, a skilled player aims to minimize the standard deviation and maximize the hourly profit rate.