HOW AND WHEN TO BETTING IN POKER?

Poker is a zero sum game, so there will always be winners and losers. More often than not, there will be a pot limit that is set by casinos, and players will contribute their hard earned cash to get involved.

Regardless of whether you are playing Texas HoldEm or Pot Limit Omaha games, the betting structure from the preflop betting round through to the later streets will be broadly the same.

There will be a small blind and a big blind button in place, and the big blind will always be placed to the left of the small blind.

Betting naturally can be quite frantic, and players will have to consider more than one betting action for any given game they play. This may include whether to fold or whether to bet or raise what has been played by the previous opponent.

In the following sections, we will show you how online poker and pot limit games at land-based casinos incorporate different rules. We will explain how some are more conducive than others, especially for those players who wish to re raise or make a big bet.

WHY DO WE BET IN POKER?

Playing poker may be fun for those getting started in a game. However, there are two key reasons as to why player bets for Texas Hold’em poker, for example, are encouraged.

Induce a bluff

Suss out the remaining players. The bluff can be used as a betting strategy to gain an advantage in the later streets.

Finding Value

Players that enjoy poker cash games want value with each bet. They want to make their poker chips count and get value with a strong hand to collect a decent size of the pot. A value bet could see a player raise with two diamonds.

In the following section, we will look a bit more closely at the poker rules, or rather more specifically, the rules for making bets in poker, whether that be early betting rounds or later on.

THE MOST IMPORTANT POKER BETTING RULES

To play poker effectively, you need to be canny for example, when working out your hands in Texas Hold’em, but for such a game, there is a level of decorum expected for limit poker games.

Below, we have run through several of the key pot limit betting rules that you should keep at the forefront of your mind.

Wait for your turn

Wait until the previous bet has been made before launching yourself in, whether it be a small bet or a big bet.

Be wary of your opponents

Assess the game play. If you make forced bets in the antes and blinds, make sure you understand how it can alter a particular betting round.

Announce your betting action

It is customary during poker games to signal any betting action. Clearly announce any betting action during betting rounds, so the dealers and other players are in the loop.

As we will see in the next section, betting rules for limit poker or no limit poker tournaments will be dictated by the types of wagers available to players.

TYPES OF POKER BET IN PRACTICE

Any given popular poker game, whether it be Texas Hold’Em or other poker variations will have a variety of bets open to players, and we have described some of the most common ones.

A fold

You won’t be required to put money into the pot for fixed limit games. You will also forfeit your right to continue in a particular betting round. This is good to do with high pairs or high-suited cards.

The call

This comes after another player has made a wager during a betting round. You can stay in the hand to see who the winner will be unless you decide to fold in the final betting round.

Make your bet

Once betting rounds get underway, you can choose to place a bet. A forced bet, as mentioned previously, will arrive in the big blind or antes. The ante will be the bet you need to place before you get a hand.

Go for the raise

The raise can be beneficial in Texas Hold’Em. You can try and put your opponent on the back foot with a raise to increase the size of the pot. Premium pocket pairs, such as pocket aces (AA) or pocket kings (KK) will give players good returns if they use all the chips or decide to re raise them later.

KEY STRATEGIES FOR BETTING ROUNDS

Regardless of your poker experience, you will need to use your poker chips wisely, especially if you want to get the upper hand in a Texas Hold’Em game. We have outlined a few strategy pointers that will help you when you bet in poker from the first betting round.

Study your opponent – In poker games, pay close attention to what your opponent is doing, and perhaps making a forced bet could see them become much looser with range.

Don’t call too early – Whether it is a pot limit game or a no limit poker game, it can be good to bide your time and weigh up whether it is the right time to call, and this could entail making a bet or raise.

Never tilt – In Texas Hold’Em, some players can find themselves on a losing streak. Take time to assess things or regroup, otherwise, you could incur greater losses down the line. And if there are tournament chips, tilting is certainly something that should be avoided.

Make use of a continuation bet – A continuation bet has a role to play in Texas Hold’Em. For example, if you find yourself in a Texas Hold’Em game, and you are able to fire off a continuation bet on the flop, then this will put you in good stead for future betting rounds.

Mix up betting amounts – Depending on the opponents in the small blind or big blind, it is a good idea to mix up the bets made. Continual forced bets on the ante that are huge will be easy to read, and you could come unstuck.

VALUE BETTING

With value betting, players will try to make a profit from getting called by worse hands. You will have to think about a couple of factors, such as how many outs will be needed to assemble a winning hand, as well as how big the pot is, or could be in the future.

In terms of hand example, you could see a Texas Hold’Em hand where the following comes up on the flop – Jack of Hearts, 9 of Hearts, and 2 of Clubs.

At this point, your hand might contain the Queen of Diamonds and 10 of Spades. You may not have much to go on here, however, two other remaining players have called and made a maximum raise, so with the outstanding bet, there could be the possibility of a flush draw.

Another hand example could be as follows. The flop comes in with the Jack of Clubs, 6 of Diamonds, and 6 of Clubs.

Meanwhile, you could be holding the Ace of Clubs and King of Clubs. So, with nine clean outs and two six outs, there will be six more outs to contend with. Therefore, if an ace or a king comes, that should be enough to win the pot.

Counting outs sometimes isn’t always an exact science, although doing some simple maths can help you with a limit betting structure.

That said, it does help with working out whether a hand is strong enough to continue from the small blind to the later streets, especially if you can make a pot bet that pays off.

WHAT IS THE RISK OF EXCESSIVE VALUE BETTING?

A value bet should always be seen as relative to the overall size of the pot. If you aren’t careful in pot limit betting games, and you are overzealous with value betting, there is a chance that you could be outdrawn by your opponent in the later stages.

They could end up drawing to flushes, or perhaps bigger flushes, which in turn, will create more cash value. As always, you should always think about ranges and positions before committing to what you perceive to be a value bet.

SEMI-BLUFFING

Semi bluffing entails making a bet or raise with a draw that may not be the strongest in equity, but it can be improved further down the line after the big blind.

So, for example, in a fixed limit game, you might see a flop of Ace of Spade, 9 of Hearts, and 8 of Hearts. Hands such as QS, JS, JD, and TS are all viewed as good hands for semi bluffs. They can be improved in the later streets in Texas Hold’Em to straights and/or flushes.

If betting with a semi bluff, you should always check to see what the potential showdown value is, especially if you are required to make a minimum bet or if there are outstanding bets that players need to place.

BLUFFING

Full bluffing arguably falls into the dark arts as you will bet or raise in an attempt to make your opponent fold a hand that is better than yours. As such, you could find yourself playing limit texas holdem or another poker variation knowing all too well that you have a weak hand, but still hoping you can change your luck a bit.

You may choose to bluff with a maximum raise in Texas Hold’Em hoping that the remaining players will retreat, but it can be a risky strategy if you don’t use the community cards properly.

Therefore, you need to figure out the ratio of value hands to bluffs on the river, so you can be more balanced if following up on a previous bet that has been made.

BETTING ON THE FLOP, TURN AND RIVER

After the flop, there will be two further community cards that will spring into action — the turn and the river which will both have a betting round in between.

But before you assess the betting limits, you need to know the pot limit betting structure, so you can have an idea of what it entails before determining whether it is worth seeing the community cards.

During the postflop stages, if you get a flush or a set, and have a strong hand after the turn, things could open up for you in a late position. If one of your opponents has made a bet, you should certainly consider raising it unless there is a valid reason not to.

Alternatively, if your opponents have seen the community cards, and are still pondering their next action, then this should be your time to make a big bet.

BETTING ROUND AMOUNTS

Depending on your level and experience will affect how much money you put into the pot for individual betting rounds.

We have run through below the distinction that needs to be made between low and high level betting amounts for poker players.

LOW BETING IN POKER

This is probably more common in limit hold’em games, where players pay rake, but it is more constraining than no limit games. For example, in a $2/$4 Limit Hold’Em game, the blinds that are posted are $1/$2 by the small blind and the big blind.

If a player in the small blind wants to raise, then their only option here will be to raise to $5.

HIGH BETING IN POKER

No Limit games can be widely found at casinos and the No Limit betting rules are pretty self-explanatory. There will be no limit placed on a player should they wish to sacrifice a large amount of chips for a game.

The bulk of these games will therefore employ a blind and ante system. So, for example, a no limit betting structure could see a game with $4/$6 stakes, where the small blind will post $4 per betting round, and the big blind will post $6 per betting round.

With no limit texas hold’em games, players are free to go all in with their entire stack should they choose to do so, and this will suit the high rollers at casinos.

WHAT MEANS BET SIZE?

The betting size will vary from regular cash games to tournaments. Although there will be a buy in amount stipulated at the casino you play at. When you are done with your casino chips in a cash game, you will be able to swap your chips for cash.

With tournament play, however, you may be able to re-buy early on in a betting round or add more chips for a set amount at the end of a rebuy period.

In between rounds themselves of games, players will raise to a certain amount if they are confident about flopping within range, for example, and they can outsmart their opponents.

HOW TO BET HIGH IN A POKER GAME?

Betting high in a poker game can sometimes be easier said than done. There is a distinct difference for example between calling and raising. Generally, calling is perceived as being a more passive move, while raising is a more aggressive move.

Passive play rarely works in poker, so the onus when making a large bet in poker is to be decisive and stick to your guns if you hope to extract money from the pot.

BEST POKER BETTING TIPS FROM ENERGYCASINO

At Energy Casino, we want to help you maximise your potential at the poker table, but more importantly, bet smarter, so you can win more money.

Therefore, we have provided below a few useful tips to help you when you place your wagers.

Think about your image

The way we portray ourselves at the table and the way we play our hands is something you need to think seriously about. Those who can handle their emotions and not give too much away in terms of range or hands played will be better equipped to ride things out in the later rounds.

Establish a budget

Before you begin to post in the big blind, make sure you have crafted a budget. Think carefully about how much you are prepared to lose and gamble responsibly. Once the fun stops, stop!

Don’t be over excessive with value betting

Spot opportunities to place a value bet, but if you try to make this play too much, it could come back to haunt you. Everything in poker should be done in moderation to reap the benefits.

Don’t be tempted to bluff too much

While a bluff can be very tempting, you need to pick your spots wisely, but also pick an opponent who appears to be weaker or unsuspecting. Over bluffing can be an obvious sign to those more experienced players around the table.

BETTING IN POKER ONLINE

Playing online poker is extremely popular nowadays. There are myriad online operators, who have combined with the latest software developers to produce the most immersive and engaging online poker games.

The best sites will provide the best user experience, and there will be plenty of live dealer games. For some, it is more convenient than spending money on poker at a land-based casino.

You will find poker sites that will suit all game types, as well as bank balances. You will find games that have decent rake amounts, and some will have guaranteed prize pools to make it worth your time. Before you sign up for a site, make sure you read reviews so you know what you are letting yourself in for.

Ultimately, you will want to join sites that are licensed, and they will have several core features, such as decent bonuses to retain your loyalty in the long term.

CONCLUSION

Poker and poker betting, more generally speaking, is such an expansive topic. There are plenty of things that players need to take into consideration when they enter the table, such as the pot limit and during rounds, ascertaining the strength of their respective hand before they make a play.

If you can figure out a bet size that you are comfortable with, then you will find your time at the poker table a more fruitful experience moving forward.