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How to Bet Well in Poker?

In poker, it is essential to know how to bet well to win money and gain better control of the game. Knowing when and how much to bet allows you to win more hands and minimize losses when another player at the table has a better hand. To achieve this, several factors must be considered. How do poker betting rounds work? When should you bet? When should you definitely not raise? We'll explain it all!

How Do Betting Rounds Work in Poker?

In Texas Hold’em Poker No Limit, the most played variant of poker worldwide, there are four betting rounds:

• the pre-flop, after each player has received their two personal cards;
• the flop, after the first three community cards are revealed on the table;
• the turn, after the fourth community card;
• the river, after the fifth and final community card.

At the beginning of the game, the first player to the left of the dealer must pay the small blind, a mandatory bet whose amount is predetermined. The player seated to their left must pay the big blind, which is double the small blind. Then, each player acts in turn, clockwise, and can choose their action:

• They can call by paying the amount of the big blind or the previous player's bet;
• They can raise by paying an amount higher than the previous player's bet;
• They can fold by throwing away their cards without paying.

During the betting rounds on the flop, the turn, and the river, players still in the game can also call, raise, or fold, but they can also check, which means staying in the game without betting more, provided the other players do not bet either.

What Are the Different Betting Strategies in Poker?

To bet effectively in poker, it's important to bet with a clear purpose to avoid losing chips. There are only two real reasons to bet:

• Either to make weaker hands follow and win more;
• Or to make stronger hands fold and thus win the hand.

Therefore, it is preferable to bet in the following situations:

Betting for Value or Value Bet

The goal here is to entice your opponent to follow your bet or raise when you have a good hand that you believe is better than theirs. Betting for value is essential in Texas Hold’em No-Limit games because this strategy allows you to win the most chips with your winning hands.

Betting to Protect Your Hand or Value Protection

In some cases, with a vulnerable hand, it is better to bet to protect it. For example, a top pair is usually the best hand at the start, but there is a risk that the turn and river cards will improve the other players' hands. In this case, it's wise to bet to encourage some other players to fold. This bet or raise can prevent them from obtaining a better hand later on.

Betting to Reduce the Number of Players Still in the Game

Betting also helps reduce the number of players still in the game. With this bet, it’s possible, with a “medium” hand or a favorite starting hand, such as pocket aces, for example, to increase your chances of winning the pot by reducing the number of opponents.

Betting with a Semi-Bluff

When a player has an isolated card or a small pocket pair, and there are many cards left in the deck that could improve their hand on the turn or the river, it can be wise to bet with a semi-bluff. This strategy can be very profitable in the long run, as it allows you to make an opponent with a medium hand fold and win the pot or even get paid and improve your hand on the river.

Betting to Bluff

In some situations, when there is little chance of improving your starting hand, you can place a total bluff to make other players believe you have a very strong hand, causing those with better hands to fold, allowing you to win the pot. Bluffing is mainly recommended when your opponent raises inconsistently with the flop, when they don’t have an excellent hand, or if you know them well. Bluffing allows you to turn a weak hand into a winning one.

A Common Practice: Betting for Information

Betting for information, that is, betting just to see the next cards, is a common practice in poker but should be avoided at all costs because it is rarely fruitful.

The Continuation Bet

The continuation bet applies to situations where the player bet before the flop with a good starting hand, but the flop didn’t help them. They then bet again to make their opponents believe that their hand is still strong. This strategy can win many pots when used correctly. In this case, the bet size should be large enough to discourage the other players from betting again.

How Much Should You Bet in Poker?

The bet size should be determined by your goal: Are you betting to make others fold, or to get called?

• To make opponents fold, it's better to bet small, as the result will generally be the same, but with lower risks if one of the other players plans to follow regardless.
• To get called with an excellent hand, you need to set the maximum amount other players would be willing to call to win the most chips. To do this, you need to closely observe your opponents and understand their playing style.

When Should You Avoid Raising?

In certain situations, it is better not to raise or even to fold. First, it’s essential to analyze your starting hand to assess the probability of it being or becoming a winning hand. If the flop, turn, and/or river are already revealed, then analyze the draw to estimate your chances of having the winning hand.

In the following situations, it is better not to raise or to fold:

• If the board has a flush draw and your starting hand doesn't include cards of that suit.
• If another player goes all-in and you don’t have a strong hand.
• If you have a pocket pair, but stronger cards have been revealed on the flop, turn, or river.