Gap Concept, Opinions and Facts

The Gap Concept is a key ideal in tournament poker. Basically it states, beware of easily dominated hands. So lets make an example or two:

1:) You have King-Queen Suited with 25 BB's in the middle stage of a tournament.

This hand looks Very Promising, but the Gap Concept will help us in understanding how to deal with it.

Early Position (1st-3rd to act )- FOLD THIS HAND! Just because it is suited and double faced is not a promise of anything! Rarely will you flop a flush, turn a flush, or river a flush. You have up to 7 people to act behind you, and the odds of someone having the following hands-- A-K. A-Q, K-K, Q-Q or a 50-50 hand like 10-10 is greatly increased when you have 7 people to act behind you.

Middle Position:--- It depends on you as a playing style and the table. A passive table, Go ahead and make a 2.5x-3.5x raise. But do not go further if shoved on, or flat called and a missed flop. You are out of position to 2-3 other players. Aggressive Table- FOLD! Again if a Queen comes on the flop? We all know how many people over-value A-Q, and you have enough of a stack to spare.

Late Position-- Here's where the fun is, The gap concept now works in your favor, the odds of someone having a dominating hand is much smaller, up to 3 people to act behind you, with open antes and blinds for the taking. Make a 3x - 3.5x raise. Remember however, this doesn't mean someone can't wake up with A-A in the BB. It just states this is less likely to occur.


Post Article Note: In my Opinion, the gap concept can a help a lot in determining appropriate play with easily dominated hands, J-K, J-Q, K-Q, Small pair up to 7's, Even A-Q a lot of the time. Position is key, and so is reading your table. I hope this helps, and anyone feel free to add their opinion of the concept when replying.



Thanks for Reading,



DerGottImHimmel ( The God in The Heavens ):cool:

It's wise to not only understand the gap concept but to notice who at the tables with you understands the gap concept. if you see someone calling with monster hands behind someone else, they understand the gap concept and you dont want these people "calling" you. however if someone just cant let go of his top pair you want to play hands with these people. their calls are what they are....weak.

Not a bad way of looking at it. It still depends on the table a good bit on how I will play this hand.

Thank you for your post this is very interesting.

the gap concept is to my understanding, it takes a much stronger hand to call a raise then to reraise. the reason is because if you call you run the risk of giving your opponent cheap cards to draw out on you. not just that but if you call you do not gain any information to the real strength of your opponents hands so you have to assume your hand is strong enough that you can afford to run the risk of dropping more cards.

avoiding dominated hands is crucial, im just not sure its relevancy to the gap concept.

Also need to remember you need a better hand to call with then to raise with. Obviously there are exceptions for advanced plays like floating or calling weak to bluff on later streets.

Didn't see your post thinkin....didn't mean to repeat...

It's all good in the hood, i know you know haha.

and you are right you always want to mix your game to throw off keen opponents, even the gap concept. sometimes calling weak will pay you dividends. the board will 4 flush and can scare them and the less solid info they have about they way you play will also scare them.

Thinknhurtz, you are very right, and i apologize for the slight misnomer, thanks for your input! it makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate it

Thank you for your post this is very interesting.

Not a bad way of looking at it. It still depends on the table