Part: Part Nine - Inflection Points: M, Q & the Zones

Protect your fold equity

Pre-flop
Blinds 400 / 800 (100 ante)Pot 2,100 (2.6 BB)Your M = 8 • Orange zoneMPA♦J♦● 16,800 (21 BB)YOUfirst to actSB● 16,800 (21 BB)posts 400 (0.5 BB)BB● 16,800 (21 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

Orange zone (M 8). Folded to you in middle position with A♦J♦. You're tempted to wait for a 'better' spot.

Orange zone, folded to you in MP with A♦J♦. Best?

WhyAct now. A-J suited at M 8 is a clear first-in raise or jam. Folding to 'wait' lets the blinds drag you into the Red and then Dead zones, where you have no fold equity left. Use your shove while it still makes opponents fold.
What happensYou raise/jam now.  Use fold equity before it evaporates.
Fold equity is a wasting asset: every orbit you fold, your M shrinks toward zones where opponents stop folding. Acting in the Orange zone, while jams still work, beats waiting for a perfect hand.

Act while you still have fold equity - jam good hands in the Orange zone rather than blinding down to the Red and Dead zones.