SAGE System
From PokerAI
SAGE system (Sit And Go Endgame system) is poker playing system designed by Lee Jones and James Kittock. They developed it after noticing that most players, including some pros, play far too tightly heads-up.
The system is designed to work when the ratio of the smaller stack to the big blind is less than about 10 to 1, for example, when the big blind has climbed to 1,000 chips and one player has fewer than 10,000 remaining.
In this case the small blind (who acts first) must often choose to either jam or fold. Once the small blind jams, of course, the big blind must choose between calling or folding, and the SAGE system also shows how to optimally defend the big blind.
The system is based on what is called Nash Equilibrium strategy. If either player deviates from such strategy, his profit expectation goes down.
Jones and Kittock rank the 169 hold'em starting hands according to their strength in heads-up play. A-A is first, of course, and 3-2 off-suit is last. The main departures from full-table values are that big cards become even more valuable, small suited connectors even less.
The system assigns each card a "power number" based on its rank:
A equals 15, K is 13, Q is 12 and J is 11, with 10 and below at face value.
You determine the "power index" of your hand with this formula: double the power number for your higher card, then add the power number of your lower card. If they're a pair, add 22. If they're suited, add 2.
Next, figure the ratio of the shorter stack to the big blind, then use this table to determine whether your power index is strong enough to play the hand.
Ratio Jam Call 1 17 (any) 2 21 17 3 22 24 4 23 26 5 24 28 6 25 29 7 26 30
Under this system, if your hand's power index is strong enough, you should jam if you're the small blind or call if you're the big blind. For example, say the blinds are 500/1000, and that after the blinds are posted, the small blind has 5,635 chips and the big blind has 2,865 chips, producing a ratio value of about 3 (that is, the smaller stack is only about 3 times the size of the big blind). If the small blind has pocket 3's, his power index is (2 x 3) + 3 + 22 = 31. If the big blind has Js-4s, his power index is (2 x 11) + 4 + 2 = 28. Because the small blind's power index of 31 is much greater than 22 - the power index needed to play a hand at that ratio - he should jam. With the same hand, the big blind should call.
The smaller the ratio, the better the system works. Above 7 to 1, you should simply play good poker - try to get a physical read on your opponent, decide whether a bluff might work, evaluate your hand, and so on. But if you think your opponent is substantially better than you, you can use the SAGE system and be confident you're giving up only a minuscule edge.
The SAGE System is copyrighted by James Kittock and Lee Jones, and the terms "SAGE System" and "Are you SAGE?" are trademarks. The authors give permission (and encouragement) to use the system, but one can't take credit for it or sell it.
