How much is the right amount to bet? I have been asked this question a lot over the years, and unfortunately, there is not a standard answer that applies to all situations. The right amount to bet depends on many factors.
First, let's ask, what do I want to happen as a result of my bet.
The correct amount to bet or raise will be the amount that will achieve the response I want from my opponent(s). If I want opponent(s) to stay in the hand, by calling or raising, what is the correct (or the maximum) amount that will do that? How much do I have to bet if I want my opponent(s) to fold, when I am protecting my hand from a draw or bluffing?
Notice I will often express the amount to bet in terms of percentage of the total pot. Good poker players know at least roughly how much money is in the pot before they bet. Try to incorporate knowing the pot value into Poker Tip #1: Follow the action. Computer players have the amount calculated for them and often need to adjust to this aspect of a casino game - one reason why I prefer live action.
The minimum raise allowed pre-flop is the amount of the big blind, or the amount of the previous raise. A standard raise before the flop in NL Texas Hold ‘Em is 3x – 6x the big blind, or the amount of previous raise, sometimes more. A player can also go “all in”, meaning bet all their chips, at any time when it is their turn.
Example #1: If the big blind is $2, the minimum raise is another $2, making the total bet $4. In a $1/$2 NL Texas Hold 'Em game, a typical raise is to $10 or $12. In an unraised pot, it is my turn to act and I have AA. I will probably raise to around $12, maybe more if a lot of people are calling bets.
Example #2: In a $1/$2 NL game, a player raises to $10. It is my turn to act and I have AA. There are no other callers. I will probably raise to around $30.
Example #3: In a $1/$2 NL game, a player raises to $10. Two people call. It is my turn to act and I have AA. I will probably raise to around $50-$60 and hope one person calls or re-raises.
If I or my opponent have a short stack (low on chips), I probably will move "all in" pre-flop in Example #2 and Example #3, perhaps also Example #1.
With all these examples, I gave us the best possible starting hand (AA), but I would certainly raise and re-raise with additional hands. I only limp with big pocket pairs if I am confident there will be a raise behind me, allowing me to re-raise, or to trap an opponent. Do not make a habit of limping with premium hands.
After the flop
The minimum bet after the flop is the amount of the big blind ($2 in $1/$2 NL hold 'em). I hardly ever make a minimum bet. It is often a sign of weakness, and/or attempting to chase a hand (straight or flush draw) cheaply. I will raise people who min-bet, to the total amount of the pot, sometimes more, if I have a strong hand (or not, if I think I can get them to fold their draw). Make it statistically unfavorable for them to continue to chase cards.
After the flop, a standard bet ranges from half to the full amount of the pot. Betting half to 3/4 of the pot will encourage action, and may give multiple players statistical "pot odds" to call the bet. Betting 3/4 or more than the pot is a strong bet, which may discourage all but the most serious callers. An over-bet could also be interpreted as a bluff, made in attempt to have everybody fold, and steal the pot.
Raises after the flop depend upon the amount of the original bet, if there are any callers, and how much money is in the pot. If I decide to raise someone who bets after the flop, my raise would probably be at least the total amount of the pot, sometimes more, or could be "all in". (see Example #5).
Example #4: I have Ah, 10c (ace of hearts, 10 of clubs) and the flop comes Ad, 9h, 10d (ace of diamonds, 9 of hearts, 10 of diamonds) There is $25 in the pot. I have top two pair and think my opponent could either have a pair of aces; maybe a straight or flush draw because there are possibilities for him to have four diamonds or four cards to a straight. I want to protect my hand from these draws and think that if he has a pair of aces, he may call with an inferior hand to mine. I bet $25, the amount of the pot.
Example #5: Same hand and flop. I have Ah, 10c (ace of hearts, 10 of clubs) and the flop comes Ad, 9h, 10d (ace of diamonds, 9 of hearts, 10 of diamonds) There is $25 in the pot. An opponent bets $10 and everyone else folds. I have top two pair and think my opponent either has a pair of aces, or more likely could have a straight or flush draw, since both possibilities exist. I want to protect my hand from the draws and think that if he has a pair of aces, he may call with an inferior hand. There is $35 in the pot. So, I raise to $45, making the total amount in the pot to $80. My opponent will have to call an additional $35 to stay in the hand.
If I have a short stack, I will be eager to go "all in" with top two pair on the flop. I would force my opponent to go "all in" if he is short stacked.
As these hands plays out, perhaps my opponent folds a draw, or calls, showing an AK. He has a strong pair of aces, but I have two pair, and win the pot.
One note of caution: I need to consider hands that could beat mine (99 would be bad for me), and decide to keep playing, or fold if I believe my opponent could hold the better hand.
So, betting and raising is situational, based upon many factors, including what you want to happen as a result of your bet. Also the value of the pot, stack sizes, your opponents style of play, as well as other factors.
My next post will focus on things to consider (like counting the pot) when moving from internet to live poker.
Example #2: In a $1/$2 NL game, a player raises to $10. It is my turn to act and I have AA. There are no other callers. I will probably raise to around $30.
Example #3: In a $1/$2 NL game, a player raises to $10. Two people call. It is my turn to act and I have AA. I will probably raise to around $50-$60 and hope one person calls or re-raises.
If I or my opponent have a short stack (low on chips), I probably will move "all in" pre-flop in Example #2 and Example #3, perhaps also Example #1.
With all these examples, I gave us the best possible starting hand (AA), but I would certainly raise and re-raise with additional hands. I only limp with big pocket pairs if I am confident there will be a raise behind me, allowing me to re-raise, or to trap an opponent. Do not make a habit of limping with premium hands.
After the flop
The minimum bet after the flop is the amount of the big blind ($2 in $1/$2 NL hold 'em). I hardly ever make a minimum bet. It is often a sign of weakness, and/or attempting to chase a hand (straight or flush draw) cheaply. I will raise people who min-bet, to the total amount of the pot, sometimes more, if I have a strong hand (or not, if I think I can get them to fold their draw). Make it statistically unfavorable for them to continue to chase cards.
After the flop, a standard bet ranges from half to the full amount of the pot. Betting half to 3/4 of the pot will encourage action, and may give multiple players statistical "pot odds" to call the bet. Betting 3/4 or more than the pot is a strong bet, which may discourage all but the most serious callers. An over-bet could also be interpreted as a bluff, made in attempt to have everybody fold, and steal the pot.
Raises after the flop depend upon the amount of the original bet, if there are any callers, and how much money is in the pot. If I decide to raise someone who bets after the flop, my raise would probably be at least the total amount of the pot, sometimes more, or could be "all in". (see Example #5).
Example #4: I have Ah, 10c (ace of hearts, 10 of clubs) and the flop comes Ad, 9h, 10d (ace of diamonds, 9 of hearts, 10 of diamonds) There is $25 in the pot. I have top two pair and think my opponent could either have a pair of aces; maybe a straight or flush draw because there are possibilities for him to have four diamonds or four cards to a straight. I want to protect my hand from these draws and think that if he has a pair of aces, he may call with an inferior hand to mine. I bet $25, the amount of the pot.
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| Four examples: What could your opponent hold in this situation? Odds calculator available at http://www.cardplayer.com/ |
Example #5: Same hand and flop. I have Ah, 10c (ace of hearts, 10 of clubs) and the flop comes Ad, 9h, 10d (ace of diamonds, 9 of hearts, 10 of diamonds) There is $25 in the pot. An opponent bets $10 and everyone else folds. I have top two pair and think my opponent either has a pair of aces, or more likely could have a straight or flush draw, since both possibilities exist. I want to protect my hand from the draws and think that if he has a pair of aces, he may call with an inferior hand. There is $35 in the pot. So, I raise to $45, making the total amount in the pot to $80. My opponent will have to call an additional $35 to stay in the hand.
If I have a short stack, I will be eager to go "all in" with top two pair on the flop. I would force my opponent to go "all in" if he is short stacked.
As these hands plays out, perhaps my opponent folds a draw, or calls, showing an AK. He has a strong pair of aces, but I have two pair, and win the pot.
One note of caution: I need to consider hands that could beat mine (99 would be bad for me), and decide to keep playing, or fold if I believe my opponent could hold the better hand.
So, betting and raising is situational, based upon many factors, including what you want to happen as a result of your bet. Also the value of the pot, stack sizes, your opponents style of play, as well as other factors.
My next post will focus on things to consider (like counting the pot) when moving from internet to live poker.
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