A lot of good poker players preach aggressive play through frequent bets that will push others out of hands. Unfortunately, a number of less skilled players take this advice and run with it without considering that the simple act of frequently betting is not going to make one a better player. Your bets and raises need to have some meaning behind them and should only be made when you have a reason to make them.
Value Bets
When you hit a strong hand it’s definitely good to get paid. And getting opponents with weaker hands to call your bets in this situation is how you get paid. Value bets are extremely important in any form of poker so you can extract maximum value from your hand. That’s why you need to make raises that are large enough to help you get value from a great hand, yet not make opponents fold.
Continuation Bet
Many players mistake continuation bets as a fashionable way to get more money into the pot. But this line of thinking is definitely wrong since c-bets are actually a way to get opponents to fold right away. If you raised before the flop and didn’t improve your hand then it’s a good idea to knock people out so nobody hits a drawing hand on the turn or river; c-bets can accomplish this goal.
Bluffing
The bluff is by far the most discussed play in poker by beginners and those who don’t know much about poker. But typical bluffing isn’t quite as glamorous as it’s portrayed in the movies with people making dramatic cold bluffs. Instead, most bluffs consist of simply trying to make better hands fold. With this being the case, you really have to think about the cards your opponent holds based on the wagers they’ve made and also consider if your opponent would actually fold. If it’s unlikely that your opponent will fold then you have no reason to bluff.
Tags: Betting, Poker Hands, Tips
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