Principles for Pot Sizing in order to Control Odds in Poker

Principles for Pot Sizing in order to Control Odds in Poker

It is good to get a handle on bet sizing to control the pot odds if you want to make a profit playing no-limit holdem. Suitable bet sizing allows you to size the pot in order to influence the pot odds. Observe this straight forward rule when sizing the pot: if you are likely holding the best hand it is advantageous to play fast and build a huge pot. On the other hand, when you have a draw or a hand that must improve significantly in order to be respectable, it is best to keep the pot little.

Playing to Build a Big Pot

An important ingredient for correctly sizing the pot is to play fast when it appears that you hold the best hand. Playing fast with the best puts pressure on your opponent by making him pay to play with second best. Scaring your opponent away, however, is something you don't want to do. Size your bet to hasten a call or even a raise from an opponent holding second best. In order to attain this goal, your bet sizing must appear to be exactly customary under the circumstances. If, for example, you raised preflop it would seem comparatively normal for you to bet between half and two-thirds of the pot on the flop as a continuation bet; anything more or less would seem to be quite fishy.

If your opponent was the first to enter the pot or raised limpers in front of him then it is normal to check to him or if you are in position, just smooth call his c-bet, taking full advantage of his aggression. This, too, is a perfectly normal move as it is quite acceptable to check under these circumstances. If your opponent is hyper-aggressive it is normal to check-call or even check-raise on the flop, If you limped preflop, it is suspicious to bet strongly on the flop into the opening raiser and you might just push him out of the pot. I generally don't advise the check-call because it appears too weak and doesn't get you any additional information about your opponent's strength. The check-raise, on the other hand, is a strong play against an aggressive raiser.

Slow-playing a big hand against a textured board is dangerous when you don't have the straight or flush draw, It is unwise to give a free card with straight or flush possibilities when you are likely to hold the best hand. Giving free cards under these conditions is clearly a setup for disaster if your opponent hits his hand.

If the board is not textured, there are no evident draws available, then you may want to rely on your opponent to keep betting to build the pot so slowing down is okay if you were not the pre-flop raiser. A check-call in this instance is the correct move. If you check and your opponent checks behind you, then you may feel safe betting out on the turn or just check-calling to trap on the river.

Playing to Keep the Pot Small

It is clearly to your advantage to keep the pot as small as possible with a drawing hand or a strong pair. If, for example you have a flush draw (9 outs) on the flop, you are 2:1 against to complete your flush on the turn or river but only a 4:1 against to improve with only one card to come on the turn if you haven't completed your hand.

While any flush is hard to get away from, with a baby flush it is still wise to keep the pot small. It is probably worth a stab at the pot, but if challenged, get away from the hand.

If you make your hand on the turn and it is the best hand or appears to be the best hand, then you should treat it accordingly.

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