The Arnold Snyder’s “Chip Utility” concept

One of the fundamental concepts that comes closest to the new paradigm is that of emotional intelligence. The signification process mentioned in the previous article is condensed by Snyder[2011] in empathy. It refers to the ability that every subject must dominate in understanding the emotions of others and to perceive and interpret the sensations that are produced and nourished during the spot. This is a fundamental aspect, as it highlights the substantial difference that exists between the live tournament and the online one. 

From Mason Malmuth’s “inverse value of the chips” to Arnold Snyder’s “Chip Utility” concept 

Prior to Snyder, Sklansky’s theories inspired the most functional as much as imaginative strategies applied to poker in function, in particular, of the concept of inverse value of chips. This theory states that each chip acquired is worth less than those already in possession. According to Snyder, this thesis is completely wrong, as each chip won, and added to your stack, will unlock those skills that need strong stack support to be practiced. In short, the larger the chips in the stack, the greater the strategic opportunities. 

As stated above, Snyder introduces the concept of chip utility[2011] to define the competitiveness of the stack owned against those of the opponents.

The Arnold Snyder’s “Chip utility” concept 

In this perspective the value of the utility is directly proportional to the abilities in possession of every athlete. In his work he creates a grid with which he measures and determines the parameters that define the utility of each stack in relation to its size according to the table in the figure.

The concept of chip utility is based on the corollary, such that, when you acquire utility you subtract it from the opponent and vice versa [ibidem]. This condition implies the need, for each athlete, to keep as high as possible their chip utility, trying to subtract it from opponents. This aspect has a lot to do with the second proposal of paradigm change that the scientific elaboration proposes for what concerns live tournaments. It refers to the need to set your own strategies no longer by virtue of the pots, but in relation to the acquisition of the opponent stack and consequent elimination of the same. 

Go to the next article to not miss the thread of the Skill Poker Index speech, or go to the first article of the series to resume it.

Pietro Semeraro – Jack Bonora

Transl. by Margherita Basile