Flawless Poker
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE GAME · ADVANCED

What Is Minimum Defense Frequency in Poker?

A simplified frequency needed to prevent a zero-equity bluff from profiting automatically against a fixed bet size.

Common abbreviation: MDF

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What it means

MDF equals pot divided by pot plus bet under the simplified model; real ranges can justify departures.

AT THE TABLE

A practical example

Facing a half-pot bet, the simplified MDF is about 66.7%.

The calculation

Simplified MDF = pot before bet ÷ (pot before bet + opponent bet).

The example above shows the idea with stated assumptions. Actual decisions also depend on ranges, future action, and the game format.

A common misconception

MDF is a simplified benchmark, not an instruction to call that percentage against every opponent.

Where you will hear it

Texas Hold’em, Omaha where applicable. The exact usage can vary with rules and context.

Also called: MDF

Related concepts

Equity RealizationHow much of a hand's theoretical equity is converted into actual value through play.Explore ↗Pot CommitmentA loose description of a situation where folding after prior investment may be costly.Explore ↗RangeThe set of hands a player could plausibly hold in a situation.Explore ↗Return on InvestmentTournament profit divided by tournament cost over a defined sample.Explore ↗CombinatoricsCounting possible card combinations that make a hand or range.Explore ↗

Keep learning

Study this idea in a wider poker context, then return to the dictionary whenever a term needs a closer look.

Explore Mathematics Nebula in Poker Galaxy ↗Read The Flawless Poker Odds Bible (PDF) ↗

Published 2026-10-15 · Updated 2026-10-15 · Flawless Poker Cosmic Codex