The Influence of Antes on your Pushing Range in SNGs
by shakin65
Introduction
In this article- How antes influence your game
- How antes change your pushing range
Antes are forced bets that players have to pay in every hand before they get to look at their cards. Antes have to be paid by every player at the table and are not considered as bets already contributed to the pot but rather as a kind of entry fee into the hand.
Antes are the second type of forced bets apart from the blinds. They usually become relevant in the late phase of Sit and Goes or multi table tournaments.
If there are any antes and how high they are varies from platform to platform. While there aren't any antes in Full Tilt SnGs, they do play a role at PartyPoker as of blind level 400/800. At PokerStars antes become relevant as of blind level 100/200.
It is a common mistake to underestimate the influence of antes; many players don't take them into consideration when playing. The following examples will analyse their influence in SnGs and you will learn why and how you should adjust your playing style.
Blind level 100/200 without antes, 6 players
UTG (t1830)
MP (t4385)
CO (t715)
Hero (t1975)
SB (t2980)
BB (t1615)
This is the level at PokerStars before antes come into play. Nash gives me a pushing range of 34.2%, 22+ Ax+ K5s+ KTo+ Q6s+ QTo+ J7s+ JTo T7s+ T9o 97s+ 87s 76s.
The calling ranges of the opponents are at 10.4%, 66+ A8s+ A9o+ (SB) and 15.8%, 44+ A5s+ A7o+ KTs+ KQo (BB).
Taking into account your stack size of 2275 as well as your opponents' stack sizes, Hero has an EV of 0.1778 after winning the blinds. Hero's expected share of the prize money is therefore 17.78%.
Blind level 100/200 and antes of 25, 6 players
If you choose the following blind levels (100/200 with antes of 25 each), the Nash ranges change as follows:
Hero's pushing range: 39.7%, 22+ Ax+ K2s+ K9o+ Q5s+ Q9o+ J7s+ J9o+ T6s+ T9o 96s+ 86s+ 75s+ 65s
SB (calling range): 11.3%, 66+ A7s+ A9o+ KJs+
BB (calling range): 24.4%, 33+ A2s+ A3o+ K9s+ KTo+ QTs+ QJo
Hero's EV after winning the blinds and the antes is at 18.63%.
The additional profit of 125 chips increases Hero's expected share of the prize money by ~1%. His pushing range increases by 5.5%.
Blind level 100/200 and antes of 25, 7 players
Hero with 10 BBs, 7-handed
CO (t1160)
Button (t2525)
SB (t1345)
BB (t3580)
UTG (t460)
MP1 (t2395)
Hero (t2035)
According to Nash, Hero could push with 30.0%: 22+ A2s+ A7o+ A5o-A4o K5s+ KTo+ Q7s+ QTo+ J7s+ JTo T7s+ 97s+ 87s.
If it was a level without antes, Hero could push with 18.9%: 22+ A2s+ ATo+ K9s+ KJo+ Q9s+ QJo J9s+ T9s. As compared to a game with antes, his pushing range becomes tighter by 11%. The big difference compared to the previous hand lies in Hero's position. Playing with antes can justify a pushing range that is considerably looser.
If Hero's position in the previous hand had been UTG, he would have had a pushing range of 12.2% in a game without antes: 88+ A8s+ A5s-A3s ATo+ KTs+ KQo QTs+ JTs.
With antes, Hero could push with 17.6% according to Nash: 22+ A2s+ ATo+ K9s+ KJo+ Q9s+ JTs T9s.
If Hero switched position with MP1, he could push 17.6%, 22+ A2s+ ATo+ K9s+ KJo+ Q9s+ J9s+ without antes. With antes, his pushing range comprises 22.5%, 22+ A2s+ A8o+ K8s+ KTo+ Q9s+ QJo J9s+ T8s+ 98s.
In a game without antes, Hero's pushing range after switching position with CO would be: 23.1%, 22+ A2s+ A9o+ K8s+ KTo+ Q8s+ QTo+ J9s+ JTo T9s. In a game with antes, it would be 32.1%, 22+ Ax+ K5s+ KTo+ Q8s+ QTo+ J8s+ JTo T7s+ 97s+ 87s.
If Hero was the BU in a game without antes, he could push 35.4%, 22+ Ax+ K5s+ KTo+ Q6s+ QTo+ J7s+ J9o+ T7s+ T9o 97s+ 86s+ 76s, with antes he could push 40.9%, 22+ Ax+ K2s+ K9o+ Q5s+ Q9o+ J7s+ J9o+ T6s+ T9o 96s+ 98o 86s+ 75s+ 65s 54s.
In the SB, Hero's pushing range without antes would be 56.0%, 22+ Ax+ K2s+ K4o+ Q2s+ Q8o+ J3s+ J8o+ T4s+ T7o+ 95s+ 97o+ 85s+ 87o 74s+ 76o 64s+ 53s+, with antes 66.2%, 22+ Kx+ Q2s+ Q5o+ J2s+ J7o+ T2s+ T7o+ 94s+ 96o+ 84s+ 86o+ 74s+ 76o 63s+ 65o 53s+ 43s.
An overview of the differences:
| Hero with 10 BB in |
Pushing range without antes |
Pushing range with antes |
Result |
| UTG |
12.2% | 17.6% |
+5.4% |
| MP1 |
17.6% | 22.5% |
+4.9% |
| MP2 |
18.9% | 30.0% | +11.1% |
| CO | 23.1% | 32.1% |
+9% |
| BU | 35.4% | 40.9% |
+5.5% |
| SB |
56.0% | 66.2% |
+10.2% |
Hero with 9 BBs, 7-handed
SB (t1700)
BB (t2000)
Hero (t1800)
MP1 (t2000)
MP2 (t2000)
CO (t2000)
BU (t2000)
Once again, take a look at Hero's range depending on his position and the antes:
| Hero with 9 BB in |
Pushing range without antes | Pushing range with antes |
Result |
| UTG |
12.4% | 18.9% |
+6.5% |
| MP1 |
15.8% | 22.2% |
+6.4% |
| MP2 |
19.8% | 31.2% | +11.4% |
| CO | 27% | 35.7% |
+8.7% |
| BU | 37.9% | 43.9% |
+6% |
| SB |
63.2% | 76.8% |
+13.6% |
What is particularly striking here are the much looser pushing ranges from middle position and from the SB.
Hero with 8 BBs, 7-handed
CO (t2000)
Button (t1900)
SB (t2000)
BB (t2000)
Hero (t1600)
MP1 (t2000)
MP2 (t2000)
| Hero with 8 BB in |
Pushing range without antes | Pushing range with antes |
Result |
| UTG |
14.8% | 20.1% |
+5.3% |
| MP1 |
16.3% | 23.4% |
+7.1% |
| MP2 |
19.8% | 30.6% | +10.8% |
| CO | 28.5% | 35.4% |
+6.9% |
| BU | 37% | 40.6% |
+3.6% |
| SB |
61.7% | 73.5% |
+11.8% |
As in the previous example, the most significant influence of the antes affect MP2 and the SB.
Hero with 7 BBs, 7-handed
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (7-handed)
MP2 (t2000)
CO (t2000)
Button (t2100)
SB (t2000)
BB (t2000)
Hero (t1400)
MP1 (t2000)
| Hero with 7 BB in |
Pushing range without antes | Pushing range with antes |
Result |
| UTG |
14.8% | 21.6% |
+6.8% |
| MP1 |
18.9% | 27% |
+8.1% |
| MP2 |
23.4% | 31.2% | +7.8% |
| CO | 31.2% | 33.9% |
+2.7% |
| BU | 36% | 42.7% |
+6.7% |
| SB |
64.7% | 77.7% |
+13% |
With 7 BBs, the changes in the pushing ranges are not too significant with the exception of that of the SB.
Hero with 6 BBs, 7-handed
Button (t2300)
SB (t2000)
BB (t2000)
Hero (t1200)
MP1 (t2000)
MP2 (t2000)
CO (t2000)
| Hero with 6 BB in |
Pushing range without antes | Pushing range with antes |
Result |
| UTG |
17.6% | 24% |
+6.4% |
| MP1 |
19.8% | 28.2% |
+8.4% |
| MP2 |
27% | 31.2% | +4.2% |
| CO | 30.6% | 35.4% |
+4.8% |
| BU | 35.4% | 43.3% |
+7.9% |
| SB |
66.2% | 78.3% |
+12.1% |
| 7-handed | UTG | MP1 | MP2 | CO | BU | SB |
| 10 BB |
5.4% |
4.9% |
11.1% |
9% |
5.5% |
10.2% |
| 9 BB |
7.5% |
6.4% |
11.4% |
8.7% |
6% |
13.6% |
| 8 BB |
5.3% |
7.1% |
10.8% |
6.9% |
3.6% |
11.8% |
| 7 BB |
6.8% |
8.1% |
7.8% |
2.7% |
6.7% |
13% |
| 6 BB | 6.4% |
8.4% |
4.2% |
4.8% |
7.9% |
12.1% |
In a 7-handed game, antes of 8 – 10 BBs have the greatest influence on the pushing ranges from MP2 and the SB. With 6 and 7 BBs you see the most significant changes when in MP1 and the SB. Here, the pushing ranger usually becomes looser by 8% to 12%.
The pushing ranges from the remaining positions usually change by 5% and 7%.
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