Bet sizing is a key component of strategic poker play. The right bet size can prompt an opponent to call or fold in accordance to your plan for a poker hand.
According to the guide to poker terminology, a bet is simply the chips (or representation of something of value) used as a wager in a hand. But bet sizing in poker is so much more than a simple definition. It is such an integral part of poker strategy that your bet size can determine your opponents’ moves, the size of the pot, your ability to bluff, the information you gain from your opponents, and, ultimately, whether you win or lose.
Factors to Consider When Determining Bet Size in Poker
There are many factors to consider when deciding how much you want to bet or raise in a hand. The primary ones should be the strength of your hand, your stack size and the stack sizes of your opponents, the size of the pot, and your position at the table.
Your bet size will depend on several of those factors at once. For quicker decisions, it is helpful to choose from an option like half-pot (a bet approximately half the size of the current pot), three-quarters pot, or pot (the size of the pot).
Some examples of bet sizing in general situations:
- You have a good hand in a good position before the flop but will be out of position after the flop. Bet or raise larger than normal.
- The community cards provide straight and flush possibilities for everyone, including you. Bet half-pot to three-quarters of the pot.
- The board is a rainbow one, with no obvious straight or flush possibilities. Bet about a quarter of the pot.
Remember that the goal of your bet or raise is to influence your opponents’ moves. To encourage a call, bet small. To encourage them to fold, bet big. But remember that all of your decisions will also depend on the dynamics of the game.
Tips for Adjusting Bet Sizes Based on Poker Game Dynamics
The ever-changing dynamics of a game can (and should) change your decisions about bet sizing. As you play at a tournament table or in a cash game, you will notice your opponents’ betting habits and tells, as well as how they act based on their stack sizes. This is one of the main reasons it is so important to pay attention to what’s happening at the table at all times.
Some examples of bet sizing based on table dynamics:
- You missed your draws, but your opponent did, too. That person tends to play scared, not wanting to risk all of their chips. Bet big, no matter your holding, to prompt them to fold.
- You flopped the nuts. Bet enough to induce a call to build the pot and win more chips.
- The board misses your hand, and your opponent tends to chase draws to the river. Bet small – if at all – to keep the pot small.
This is a time when calculating pot odds should play a role in your bet sizing decisions. If you’re getting the proper odds to call and table dynamics support those odds, bet sizing should meet the moment and do the job.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Your Bet Size
Bet sizing should be relatively simple for most players at most stakes. There should not be too much invested into calculating proper bet sizes, such as using the Kelly Formula or Kelly Criterion, unless experience and bankroll dictates your readiness for such complicated formulas.
Most players should focus on mastering bet sizing in poker and avoiding common mistakes.
While players should adjust their bet size based on the strength of their hand, you should make sure that any pre-flop betting will not backfire in post-flop betting situations. While you hope that your bet size will accomplish the intended goal, you should plan for incidences in which it doesn’t work out. If a preflop half-pot bet doesn’t work, some players may give up instead of adjusting their strategy to their opponents’ bet sizing reactions.
Another common mistake is not watching opponents to pick up tells in a poker game. Knowing which opponents are playing tight or playing with scared money helps adjust bet sizing to take advantage of those weaknesses in others. There are tells in their table talk, voice fluctuations, movements, chip play, and in their own bet sizing choices. Skilled players will pick up on those indicators and use them in their own decision-making.
To ensure that your bet sizing choices are a part of your all-around strategy, especially as a beginning poker player, read our guides to learn how to play poker. Incorporate bet sizing decisions into each facet of your poker education and strategy building.
Play Online Poker at BetMGM
The best way to experiment with bet sizing is to play micro stakes at a reputable online poker site. By playing with a small portion of your bankroll, you can practice various strategies and figure out what works best for your style of play.
Play legal online poker with BetMGM while learning about bet sizing. And don’t forget to use a poker welcome bonus to take advantage of the best deals and promotions in online poker while doing so.
