How to bet & When to bet in Online Texas Holdem.
To bet is to announce that either:
1)”You have the best hand, and will wager money on it” or,
2)”You have a poor hand, and you will fold if you are forced to wager on it”.
Normally, players are assumed to bet when they have a good hand. Players who don’t have good hands are assumed to fold. Naturally,if it was this simple, there would be no need for this page. You might as well put money on Tic-Tac-Toe. Most players play the opposite to this idea, attempting to be a tricky or deceptive player. Be careful, don’t plunge into this trap when you are just learning how to play.
Your betting strategy should be based on that simple idea, but you must know when to abandon the
betting. Here are some example situations you should start looking at to improve your game:
Example one: Blind-stealing
When you are in the dealer’s position, and only you and the blinds are remaining in the game, a raise is
often called “blind-stealing”. This is because the blinds may fold, where as if you didn’t raise but simply called, the blinds would simply check. It’s a good way to make a buck or two, but will never make you rich. It’s more of a way to end the game fast and have a new hand dealt with more players (and more
money).
Example two: The steal-raise
If you are last to act and all players have checked to you, betting to simply eliminate the number of
players or take the pot is called a steal-raise. Don’t use this too much exclusively, as better players
will be onto you quickly and begin check-raising against your (most likely) poor hand. It is good to use
a steal raise when you have an excellent drawing hand such as a nut flush draw. Players will tend to
“check to the raiser”. If you draw to your hand, you now have a larger pot to win. If you don’t, you can always check, and hope the fifth card makes your hand.
Example three: The check-raise
Check raising is checking to your opponent, with the intention of luring them into bet, so that you can
raise them back. Your intention is to lure them into a false sense of security so that you can raise
them and increase the pot (remember, after one bet is committed, its more likely they’ll commit to two). So,you better have a good hand.
Example four: The opener
This impulsive move is often done by people who bluff. It is when the person first to act raises, making
all other players call two bets at once. His intention is to limit the number of players. Basically,this move amounts to a backwards steal-raise. The effect will most likely cause many players to fold,
but the ones remaining will either be equally aggressive or truly have a great hand. This is also known
as betting for information. This tactic is best used with few players in on the hand.
Example five: Squeezing
Squeezing is a tactic only used in a short-handed game. You bet when you have a good hand currently, and you suspect another player or players may be on a draw. For example, you have a top pair with the best kicker. Chances are they won’t make their draw. Your goal is to limit their pot odds.
The above examples are just few examples of bets. If you are playing no limit or pot limit holdem, the
whole thinking behind betting becomes radically different.
