Poker is the perfect game for those who enjoy a blend of skill, luck, and mind games. One of poker’s core skills is betting, which is often an area that beginners misunderstand. This poker guide will go in-depth about the different types of poker bets and how essential they are to your poker strategy.
Betting Strategy: Types of Bets and How to Use Them
What many beginners are surprised by is the fact that there are actually many different kinds of poker bets. Each bet is meant to be used at a different time, so knowing these bets can be essential for new players.
Donk Bet
The Donk Bet is commonly used as an example of a bet you should not do. While recently it has been redeemed by some pros, it is still incredibly situational and beginners completely avoiding it is often a good idea. A donk bet is when you bet into the pre-flop aggressor instead of checking. The reason this is bad is that there is just almost always a better option given your hand. If your hand is good, you will want to check-raise. If your hand is average, you want the pot to be small, so you check-call otherwise, you will have to fold to a raise. If your hand is bad, you will want to check for the chance at a free card while being able to fold without losing much money.
Continuation Bet
One of the most common types of bet, a continuation bet, is where you bet after making the last aggressive action in the previous round. It is most commonly seen pre-flop, where the aggressor makes the final raise pre-flop and continues making the first bet on the flop. There are a number of benefits from continuation betting, and it is so instinctive that new players sometimes do this without even realizing it.
Continuation betting aims to win when nobody has connected with the flop. You imply you have a strong hand pre-flop, and this will cause other players to check with you to see how you react to the flop. By betting at that moment, players who have not connected to the flop will likely fold to you. Continuation bets also help gradually build a pot if you have an excellent hand or are planning to bet big on a possible draw to complete your hand.
3 – Bet
A three-bet is when one player raises, and another responds with a higher raise. This is a big display of your hand strength, showing you are willing to commit a lot. This type of bet is often used as a bluffing tool since it can potentially scare off people who are afraid to commit. Remember to use it wisely, though, because as useful as this aggressive bet is, aggression must be used conscientiously; otherwise good players will notice your predictable betting patterns.
Value Bet
Poker bets have two main uses: betting to make your opponents fold or making your opponents call. A value bet is the latter, a non-threatening bet that helps you slowly build a big pot to claim if you are confident you have the best hand. They usually happen on the river since you know no other cards will come. Opponents who also believe they have a good hand will usually call this bet, which strengthens the pot. How much a value bet is worth exactly depends on the situation, but a good rule of thumb is not more than the current value of the pot.
Overbet
An overbet, as the name implies, is when you bet much more than usual. Generally, you will want to avoid betting more than what is currently in the pot, but in those rare circumstances where you do, you use an overbet. Usually happening during the river, they are at least twice the size of the pot. They are both a great way to bluff and a great way to get value. Their size can scare off players with bad hands, while they can also make players with good hands call you and add a lot to the pot.
Probe Bet
A Probe Bet is a bet designed to get information from your opponents. It is a small bet, usually one-third of the pot, performed when your opponent is the pre-flop aggressor, yet instead of betting a continuation bet after the flop, he simply checks. This could mean your opponent missed the flop, hit a great hand and is trying to build the pot slowly, or is even scared your hand is stronger. Because of all these possibilities, a probe bet is a great idea. It forces your opponent to respond and take action, giving you information. If your opponent’s hand is weak, you may even win the pot on the spot!
All-In Bet
An incredibly risky and exciting bet, all-ins involve every single chip a player has. They can happen at any time, though they appear a lot during the river. Players using value bets and slow play get a lot of value from going all-in during the final round. Another way to utilize them is an all-in on the flop. When you already have a great hand on the flop, going all-in is a great way to scare off players still waiting for another draw. This can also be used as a bluff but is not a good idea with slow play since you want to maximize the size of the pot.
We hope this comprehensive list of bets and how they work helped you learn how to play poker. Now that you know these poker tips, signing up to play free poker on online sites like GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, is the best way to apply them. Online poker is better if you’re new since it is easier to access. It also provides a variety of special ways to improve, like poker tracking software.
