Poker Strategy

How to Bud a Large Pot Into Fruition

What is the number one surefire way to get tons of money in poker?

Create large pots.

Doing so however, is easier said than done.

There are plenty of different ways to bet after you’ve been dealt an awesome hand; some ways are correct, while others are wrong. The trick is, not only using the correct methods, but using them at the correct time. Some of the best methods to use are check raising, over-betting, betting consistently, and just plain leaving the betting up to opponents. Now that list is out of the way, when exactly should those methods be used?

Let’s start with check raising. Check raising, also known as check betting, can be a very powerful move if used in the correct manner, and at the perfect time. For those who don’t know, Check betting is when you check to let your opponent bet, and then raise once the turn comes back around to you. The check betting method can create very large pots especially if you can get your opponent to bet hefty; it can also create large pots if there are a number of opponents still in the round. Check betting however can have quite a few complications so it should only be used if you are sure that your opponent will bet on their turn. If your opponent simply checks instead of betting, this drops out an extra set of betting time and thus lessens the overall pot total. Check betting is also a very strong sign of poker skill when used correctly; most poker novice’s either can’t handle the move or use it incorrectly. Therefore a successful check bet move might cause your opponents to run for the hills. If they notice a hint of excessive poker strengths they might be more tempted to back out on you more in the future as well. It is important to note the fact that check betting often will cause the move to lose its power effect; meaning that your opponents will learn quickly you are only check raising with a good hand. This can cause dangerous side effects.

Another method to help start budding large pots into fruition involves a term called Over-Betting. Over-betting is when a player simply does just that; they bet a considerable amount more than they should on any one turn. Over-betting can be both extremely effective, and extremely dangerous. It must, by all means, be used in moderation. There is a rather old theory that helps this move in some circumstances; way back when players used to believe that if a player was over-betting they were without a doubt bluffing. In some cases this may hold true; but for the most part poker has evolved and this no longer correlates. Some players’ and even some veterans still believe this is true. After all, why would a player bet a huge amount if they have a good hand; the player obviously wants to keep his/her opponents in the round therefore it would be more likely they would bet small. This type of thinking is one track minded, and it would be best if you stay far away from it; as for your opponents, let’s hope they still believe in that theory. Regardless, the over-betting method should be used carefully, and must seem seemingly random to opponents. If a player over-bets and an opponent calls with a stronger hand; there could be a very large sum of money lost. The point to using these methods however, is using them when you think that you have the strongest hand at the table, therefore in theory you should practically win the hand. Over-betting is also a strong move that can force weak players into folding or giving up.

On the other hand, betting smaller in a more consistent manner can also create a large pot over time. This method ensures that at least one of your opponents will stay in the round, provided they have a strong enough hand. In order to create a large pot however you must bet all three streets, the flop, and the river. If you miss a chance to bet than pot will be reduced that much more. This can also enable you to go all-in, depending on your total stack, over an extended period of time instead of throwing all your chips in at once. This will be due to the fact that after betting every turn, your hand might be small enough to go all-in without having to over-bet. The consistent betting method should be used against weaker opponents, and in situations where you believe betting large would knock most of your opponents out. The weaker opponents will generally jump out before the flop, they will see your consistent betting as a threat while the stronger and more skilled players may see it as a cautious move and will take the bait. If used correctly, the consistent betting method could earn you the most money out of every method listed here.

The final method, involves letting your opponents make the bets. This is not recommended in many situations, and can pretty much waste a large amount of premium betting time if gauged incorrectly. It is to be used for a table of extremely weak or extremely stingy poker players. These tables are encountered often enough however to make this method matter. The trick is, tailoring your opponents to believe you are a terrible player or novice. They will bet almost every turn, and your only move will need to be a call of their bets, or a raise. This will create a very large pot, and reap in extensive rewards only if you are at the right table. If you are sitting at a table of vets or pros, this method should never be used.

In a matter of no time, if you hone your skill at these methods than you will find the pots growing considerably larger at every table you participate at. Most importantly, learn to shuffle up your library of poker moves, and keep your opponents guessing what and why you are doing what you are. Good poker players often win because they are so unpredictable at times; not unpredictable in a reckless sense, but in a professional sense.

Tags:
Check Betting, Check Raising, Large Pots, Over-Betting, Poker

Strategies to Keep Your Opponents In the Round

The worst thing that any player can do with a really great hand in poker; is make it very obvious to their opponents that they hold one, by betting big every time they get the chance. Smart opponents will know right away that you more than likely have a good hand, and shortly after they will fold. If everyone folds before you can raise the bet to a good amount, then your hand is completely wasted. The pot will still go to you of course, but it won’t be near as much as if you kept your opponents betting a little more after each turn. There are a couple great solutions to help rack up the chips with an awesome hand; and they have many other benefits as well

The first solution is a classic tactic called “Check Raising”. Check Raising is the simple art of checking your hand with the intention of later raising, in the same round, after an opponent bets. Check raising works best when you are absolutely sure you have one of the highest possible hands on the table; but it can also help you determine what exactly your opponents are trying to do with their own hand. In most cases if your opponent is bluffing; Check Raising will help you figure it out. Before you decide to use this tactic however you must be sure of a few things. The first thing to be sure of is obviously your hand’s strength; the stronger the better. Although, you want to make sure that your hand isn’t too high; otherwise Slow-Play would be the better choice. The next thing to be sure of is whether or not the person behind you will raise the bet after you check. You also want to make sure that the bet you make yourself isn’t too high so that it scares off opponents from calling.

The other solution is known as “Slow-playing”. Slow-playing is when you check or call to keep your opponents in; and plan to make your move in a later round. Most methods of Slow-Play involve only calling or checking for each round until just before the river, and then once there slapping down a large bet. This generally is what many good poker players will use as a strategy when they plan to go all in. As with many strategies in poker this can be a very dangerous move in many cases if you are not sure the hand you hold is the highest.

Both of these methods should be learned and mastered by the poker novice. It should also be noted very early that players should not overuse these strategies; because then they would become very predictable for their opponents. Thus, it is very important to only use these strategies when they are profitable.

One of the biggest benefits of using these strategies is the overall reward size of the pot. Betting big from the beginning will scare opponents into folding their hand; which also means they will not bet. The pot amount will remain small and the entire hand will be wasted. Using these strategies however, even if all the opponents fold earlier on in the hand; a good chunk of the pot will return to you as a reward for your patience.

Your opponents will also not be able to judge what you are doing in later hands if you space out the use of these strategies. This helps the entire game in the long run because it will always keep your opponents guessing; therefore they won’t be so quick to judge your hands strength or weakness. This will enable you to get away with successful bluffs; as well as trick opponents into betting more into the pot.

There is another strategy which will help in the event a good hand is not received right away but is attributed in one of the later rounds. This particular tactic is named the “Overcall”, or in some cases “Fishing for the Overcall”. A good hand is dealt let’s say in the final round, the River. The same thing needs to be done here that is done with the other strategies; you do not want to scare off your opponents. The best course of action in this situation calls for holding out and simply calling another player’s bet, to encourage the other opponents into doing the same. This will raise the overall pot value, and will earn you a bigger heap of chips as opposed to betting big and making everyone dive out of the way.

Tags:
Check Raising, Poker Novice, Slow-playing