Bet sizing on the flop, turn, and river
should be something that comes naturally in
time. The only thing that you need to consider
when determining how big to make a bet is what
your mission is. You will be making different
size bets if your goal is to see where you are
at, c-bet, for value, when on a draw, or when
bluffing. There are so many different scenarios
that it would be near impossible to cover all
angles of bet sizing. For all intents and
purposes you should assume that the villain in
each hand is a random player with no
particularly odd tendencies.
Bet sizing on the flop
The pot is $10 at .50/1 and you are first to
act on the flop after open raising pre-flop.
You have AQ and the flop brings an ace and
two low cards, A x x.
You should be getting value, bet $8.
Same hand, different flop, J 7 4.
You can c-bet $6 or $7, there is no use in
betting much more as you are only trying to get
a fold out of your opponent, another option
would be to fold.
Pretend that your AQ was suited in diamonds.
The flop is Ks Js 4h.
You have a tremendous draw. Betting $7 or $8
would be your best move. That way you are
getting value from a hand with huge potential as
well as protecting your hand for the turn and
river. Your flop bet would lead people to think
that you have already made a hand. Then when you
make your hand on the turn or river they will
discount the possibility of you having made a
flush. More than this is your ability to get
folds out of a weak K on a later street.
Continue Your Poker
Education at The
Full Tilt Poker Academy and
Learn From the Best Poker Pros in the Game
Visit The Full Tilt Poker Academy
Bet sizing on the turn
You have AQ and the flop brings an ace and
two low cards, A x x.
You bet $8 and get called, the pot on the
turn is $26. The turn is a Q. Bet $19. Keep
other aces in the hand and maximize your hand’s
value.
Same hand, different flop, J 7 4. Your c-bet
was called and the turn is a Q. The pot is $24.
You want to disguise your hand’s improved
strength so you either check or bet $14.
Pretend that your AQ was suited in diamonds.
The flop is Ks Js 4h. You bet $7 and the pot
is $24. The turn is 7s.
Bet $21. You will look like you are bluffing
and get calls from all kinds ok Ks in addition
to two pair combinations or a worse flush.
Bet sizing on the river
You have AQ and the flop brings an ace and
two low cards, A x x.
You bet $8 and get called, the pot on the
turn is $26. The turn is a Q. Bet $19. Keep
other aces in the hand and maximize your hand’s
value.
The river is another ace. You have a full
house and the villain can very possibly have an
ace as well. The pot is $64, you can either
check raise the river or bet $52 or so. The
check raise is more player dependent, our
opponent being an unknown I would bet $52.
Same hand, different flop, J 7 4. Your c-bet
was called and the turn is a Q. The pot is $24.
You want to disguise your hand’s improved
strength so you either check or bet $14.
After your turn bet the board is J 7 4 Q and
the pot is $52. The river is a 6.
Bet $22 for straight value. If you get raised
it is an easy fold. Many times you will get
called down by hands like AJ or KJ.
Pretend that your AQ was suited in diamonds.
The flop is Ks Js 4h. You bet $7 and the pot
is $24. The turn is 7s.
Bet $21. You will look like you are bluffing
and get calls from all kinds ok Ks in addition
to two pair combinations or a worse flush.
The river is 8d. The pot is now $66 and you
have the nuts. Your hand is also hard to read
with the line you took. You should bet $42 to
get a call from hands like AK, KJ and worse
flushes. Maybe the villain will even shove with
a missed draw, a hand like T Q. Either way a $42
bet is small enough to get a call but not so big
that you will scare away inferior hands.
