Areas I Need to Work On

I feel that I need to improve my understanding and knowledge as it pertains to betsizing. I'm not sure if I am horrible at this or very good. I need to talk to others about this or read articles covering this aspect of NL Holdem. This of course excludes opening the preflop action but not necessarily re-raising amounts. Typically I raise 2.2-2.5bb + the number of limpers exponentially.

Another area has to do with playing for showdown value and knowing when, and if, and how much to bet postflop all the way to the river. For example, if I have A7 and the flop comes 279 and it's checked to me, do I bet? Sounds like an easy answer....yes. But, I think I read threads where someone suggested checking to keep it small unless I was the orinal raiser. Another example is if I have A9 and the flop is 279. Someone OOP bets. With TPTK, do I call or raise? Again, this seems like an easy decision to raise, but I recall someone saying smooth call.

I know there are many factors in determining bet sizing and getting to showdown cheaply. Replies to my above examples are great. However, does anyone know of any good articles, videos, or books that cover these topics?

I'll offer my thoughts on some of these to get the conversation started. :)

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Originally Posted by dyehard

I feel that I need to improve my understanding and knowledge as it pertains to betsizing. I'm not sure if I am horrible at this or very good. I need to talk to others about this or read articles covering this aspect of NL Holdem. This of course excludes opening the preflop action but not necessarily re-raising amounts. Typically I raise 2.2-2.5bb + the number of limpers exponentially.

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I'm not sure I understand your exponential comment, so I'll just explain what seems to work best for me.

Early in a typical SNG or MTT, assuming my and most stacks are > 30 BB, and there are no antes, I would typically raise to 3.0x the BB. This is still less than 10% of my stack, which keeps the stack to pot ratio nice and allows for plenty of post-flop play.

With one limper, I would normally raise to 3.5x BB, which costs less than 4.0x and accomplishes the same things.

If it folds to me in the small blind, I would normally raise to 3.0, 3.5 or even 4.0x, in an attempt to end the hand pre-flop, rather than be forced to play a hand out of position.

Once typical stack at my table fall < 30 BB, I normally decrease my default raise size to 2.5x BB. I keep dropping my raise size as the tournament progresses, trying to always invest > 10% of a typical stack pre-flop. Eventually, I will just barely be over a minimum raise (i.e. raising to 888 with 200/400 blinds).

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Another area has to do with playing for showdown value and knowing when, and if, and how much to bet postflop all the way to the river. For example, if I have A7 and the flop comes 279 and it's checked to me, do I bet? Sounds like an easy answer....yes. But, I think I read threads where someone suggested checking to keep it small unless I was the orinal raiser.

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It depends. Do you have position? Who was the raiser? Is there a flush draw? What do you know about your opponent? What does he think of you? Etc.

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Another example is if I have A9 and the flop is 279. Someone OOP bets. With TPTK, do I call or raise? Again, this seems like an easy decision to raise, but I recall someone saying smooth call.

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It depends. Do you have position? Who was the raiser? Is there a flush draw? What do you know about your opponent? What does he think of you? Etc.

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Originally Posted by Chipless Wonder

I'll offer my thoughts on some of these to get the conversation started. :)


I'm not sure I understand your exponential comment, so I'll just explain what seems to work best for me.

Early in a typical SNG or MTT, assuming my and most stacks are > 30 BB, and there are no antes, I would typically raise to 3.0x the BB. This is still less than 10% of my stack, which keeps the stack to pot ratio nice and allows for plenty of post-flop play.

With one limper, I would normally raise to 3.5x BB, which costs less than 4.0x and accomplishes the same things.

If it folds to me in the small blind, I would normally raise to 3.0, 3.5 or even 4.0x, in an attempt to end the hand pre-flop, rather than be forced to play a hand out of position.

Once typical stack at my table fall < 30 BB, I normally decrease my default raise size to 2.5x BB. I keep dropping my raise size as the tournament progresses, trying to always invest > 10% of a typical stack pre-flop. Eventually, I will just barely be over a minimum raise (i.e. raising to 888 with 200/400 blinds).



It depends. Do you have position? Who was the raiser? Is there a flush draw? What do you know about your opponent? What does he think of you? Etc.



It depends. Do you have position? Who was the raiser? Is there a flush draw? What do you know about your opponent? What does he think of you? Etc.

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I've got preflop bet sizing down pretty good. Although it gets a little murky whe I need to 3 or 4 bet.

My main concern is proper bet sizinf post flop. Like I said, I know there are many variables to consider which is why I am comfortable with reading up on it.

I have beeb playing on absolute a lot lately and they have half pot button
I use it frequently. I go after lots of pots so I need to balance my steals or cbets (half pot bets) with value bets. Feel and experience and discipline lets you know if you should value bet on the end. Often times I make chips on knowing how I am being perceived at the moment and I exploit it.