Basic
Betting Strategy
"
You
Bet Your Life"
A bet at the poker table is your form of
advertisement. You are selling a product or an idea to
your opponents at the table. Sending a message with
the amount, timing and attitude of your bet. It’s a
declaration. Maybe not a declaration of war or of
independence, but a statement that, when used
properly, will help bring in the profits and stave off
the losses. Poker is all about one thing: money. And
to make that money, you must embrace the concept of
risk-reward through your betting strategy.
The
bet is more than just the amount of chips you throw in
the pot. It can be as detailed as how
you throw your chips into the pot. Other players are
watching you, so it’s important to keep consistent
and controlled motions every time you bet. Keep your
eyes in one place and be weary of exerting different
expressions when you bet. In other words, work on your
poker face and body language when betting.
When
you have good cards, bet confidentially. When
you’re betting with nothing, bet confidentially.
Condition other players to think that when you’re
making a bet, you’re doing it because you have the
best hand, even when you don’t. Your first goal
should be to make other players fold. Your second goal
is to figure out your odds. If the odds for a
particular hand are in your favor, bet as heavily as
possible.
So,
now the bet is in your hands and you have three
choices. You can call, raise or fold. And, to the
surprise of some, calling may be your worst move. When
you call, you’re just reacting to the whims of
another player, so the only way you can win is if you
have the better hand. Folding is actually a better
play because you’ve saved yourself money, while
calling can expose you as weak. You will find that the
pros, on most hands, either bet, raise or get out of
the way.
An
offensive, aggressive approach can make other players
fold the better hand. And nothing says aggressive like
the raise. When you raise, re-raise and check-raise,
sometimes just the surprise of the move can shake up
and throw off your opponents, making them easier to
read.
And
betting can be like baseball. The successful
major league pitcher who throws a 95 mph fastball is
even more un-hittable when he mixes in a 65 mph
change-up. Do the same when it comes to betting. Throw
in a change-up by bluffing and staggering the amount
of your bets and you will keep the other players
guessing.
