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Poker Post - "Betting in No-Limit & Pot-Limit"

Discussion in 'Poker Forum' started by TEACH (AlSpath), Feb 4, 2015.

  1. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2014
    Likes:
    205
    Occupation:
    Poker Instructor
    Location:
    Maryland USA
    Betting in No-Limit & Pot-Limit - Russ (all I have is a first name, looking for author, please help if you know)

    (comments wanted on what he posted - years ago online, no date available, still hold true?)

    The biggest downfall for beginning players is their lack of betting skills. Newcomers to No Limit and Pot Limit poker aren’t proficient in assessing the proper amount to bet in the pots. This amount is not a specific number, but falls into a range. Betting properly is a part of the formula that makes up a winning player. Some players have stated they could destroy others in No Limit and Pot Limit without even looking at their cards. I believe this to be true, provided the competitor was unaware of this ‘hoax’.

    While hand selection is very important it is not nearly as crucial an element in your play as your betting skills. Tight players who do not know how to bet properly are washed away because they allow players to draw to hands cheaply. It is even more important to stay away from trap hands in Pot and No Limit than in Limit. Hands that can finish opposition off with one blow are key. Pressure is the mode of play in these games and if you don't know how to apply pressure, you will not fare well.

    While I don’t recommend the stacking off method (betting all your chips) for extended play it is far more effective for beginners than most ‘beginning styles’ in this game. It gives the beginner a structure to lean on while they flounder around learning and observing and analyzing. (Just one less variable at the beginning.) It really does give you a better chance and shows the beginner what applying the pressure can do. Sooner or later the better players will adapt and add more dimension to their game.

    And, of course, our friend, position plays a great roll in this game. Opening the pot with a limp is not recommended. The only ones able to do this are the best professionals who know how to trap and know when to dump hands in an instant. The better player can control the size of the pots with slight variations on the amounts he opens with. These will normally not be noticed as you may open with 3x the big blind with AK and 4x with AA. Bear in mind that you may want to change styles in an instant to trap your opposition.

    Pots opened in front of you give you many options. You can slow play or raise, depending on who is behind you and what you think the possibility is of being raised. In general, winning in Pot or No Limit does not dictate ever showing hands. In fact if you never showed a hand on the river after betting, you would never lose. Bluffs can be played in many ways and styles. Sometimes you're milking the opposition and sometimes you’re betting your whole stack. Your skills grow because of players who improperly bet and tell you (a better player) what they hold. Your analysis of the opposition determines what and how you play.
    I will explain some betting flaws that are very common in online games and smaller games as well. Most of these can easily be seen, and with proper follow through, you can take advantage of these situations. Since most of you don't play cash Pot Limit or No Limit games, I will deal more with tournaments. The same concepts apply to cash games.

    One of the main things you must learn is to always be aware of the opponent’s chip positions. Don't make the simple mistake of thinking you can make the same move on a short stack that is possible on a large one.

    Poor betting is blatantly visible all day long in these online games and tournaments. The players who know how to read their opponents will trap and hook the weaker ones only to finish them off in a showdown. The weak players will bet improperly and, in essence tell better players what they hold. Consider the early play in a tourney with blinds being $25 - $50. The opener comes with $100 and has 4 people limp in behind. The pot is about $500 - $600, and the opener comes out with a bet of $50. THIS IS A HORRIBLE BET! (The correct bet in this case should be $400 - $600.) With this $50 bet, the opener is allowing the 4 limpers to stay in if they choose to. You need to understand that a win with this bet isn't possible without a flop of three of a kind, A,A,K or the likes. This would mean he has flopped the nuts or is just bluffing. Many possibilities arise with betting like this, none really good for the bettor.

    Consider a flop of Q, J, 3 with a flush draw. Many beginners or weak players might bet $50 as a way to slow the action down to get a cheap draw and avoid calling a large bet with a draw. Obviously they could also have top set, but normally if a player did he would not draw this cheaply. After a player does this a couple of times the better players will realize what the individual is doing and adjust the pressure to take advantage of this.

    Proper opening bets in Pot and No Limit games should be 2 ½ - 5 times the big blind. A few hints for those trying to play a better game of Pot or No Limit - Begin by playing conservatively with starting hands and expand with experience. Obviously it is best to have position, but many times you will be raised from behind or called in the front. I can't tell you exactly what to do in these situations since (like your hands) they will all be different. This is what playing poker is about. Remember, if the bet is out of line, the hand is probably too. Attack from here. I can assure you that when the bets aren't the proper size, something is wrong.You can take advantage of improper betting by adjusting to the parameters I set earlier and by following through with the bluff. The majority of the time these bets are a sign of weakness, and a proper raise will eliminate the opposition.

    When you see weak bets into pots where infinite hand possibilities exist with the turn of the next card, you can believe the person betting is weak or on a draw. But remember, you aren't the only one that knows this, and others will play the call bluff and make plays also. Go with your first instinct and follow through. It is easy to make one small bet to attempt a bluff; it is also easy to call with second pair for a small amount. Follow through and apply the pressure. These people won’t last long if they keep calling with bottom pairs, second pairs, and other bad draws. As long as your play is consistent, you control the game and amount. Don't let some one’s call stop you from following through if your instincts tell you they hold a weak hand.

    Make them pay whether you're bluffing or holding the nuts.

    the nuts.jpg
     
    Leon Macfayden likes this.

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