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.

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