Betting the Pot

How do you all feel about betting the pot? Too much? Too predictable? Too little?

The question is a little too vague to be able to answer correctly.

Cash game or Tournament?
How much is in the pot?
What are the players stacks?
How many players in the pot?
what are the players positions?
What does the board look like?
Do you have any reads?

The answer to these questions and some others will change the answer you will get.

thanks Steve I was trying to give myself a general rule and not looking at all of the other factors

Sorry I couldn't help more, maybe someone else can but without more information it is tough. I tend to bet 1/2 the pot a lot as it will give striaght and flush draws incorrect odds to chase if I am heads up. But that is without reads, if they will call a pot sized bet I will make a pot sized bet. If you post a hand history or give a situation then it can discussed.

I'm relatively new to this, but I think it depends on whether you have what should be the best hand versus actually having the best hand. Might do it with pocket A's (usually lose), but usually wait for the flop.

I try to keep my bets between 1/2 and 2/3 pot with obvious exceptions.

The odd thing I've noticed, is that Pot Limit Hold'em is actually much looser than No Limit. Because it's the cap, the pot-sized bet is much more common, and some people use it exclusively. I assumed Pot Limit was going to be tighter before I started playing it.

I play in PL tourneys (the 1.10 daily on PS) and I can tell you that I bet the pot there with most hands that I would normally play 4x BB. I am not sure if this strategy is correct but it works for me most of the time. I can place in the money at least 2-3 times a week on this game. even if it is the low end of the money.....LOL

well look at it this way. I think it depends on your read and what you playing. I usually go for more of a small ball approach to things. Like in tournaments right away and until the blinds become significant i only raise 3x to 4x the big blind. but in a cash game it depends on your feel. you need to know what kind of player they are. If they are a call station i would go pot just to build the pot that i am a favorite in. If they are a better player i usually try to figure out if they are predisposed to calling or folding and go from there. If they are really agressive i usually let them hang themselves. It is all situational.

I agree with previous posts that it depends on situation but whatever you do vary the play so opposition has no defining play to read by.

my guess is sitting at a table with lots of people willing to call pot bets iz a dangerous table

I agree with Steve that there are many factors to the decision. Tee-tee, you will find that almost every question in poker can be answered with the phrase "It depends."

However, I'll give you a "general rule" I use myself for most post-flop situations:

"When you have a dangerous board, make 'em pay dearly for the next card."

Dangerous board = 2 cards of a suit or 2 connected cards for a straight. Both of those would make a REALLY dangerous board.

Pay dearly = about a pot-sized bet would do. You give one player 2-1 odds to continue. (IE: If you bet $2 into a $2 pot, the pot is $4 and it's $2 for them to continue. 4-2 = 2-1. ) Now if you have more than one player in the hand with you, you may want to bet more than the pot. (I won't get into the numbers showing why, so as not to confuse you just yet. )

Anyway, I hope that helps. Also, you oughta read (or at least skim) the Lee Jones book that Freak got from me. It's a Limit Hold'em book and I haven't read it yet, but I bet there is a chapter in there that covers "bet sizing". Cheers.

I agree with stickers and steve. Pot size bets usually are a bit large since it becomes to predictable to cont bet 2/3 and pot it when you have a hand, and betting pot on every cont bet can become a bit costly. With that said if there are a few players and a drawy board its fine.

Also, I am assuming competent players. If you are at the lowest stakes it probably is better to just pot your good hands since people arent paying attention as much.

Sticker, why would a limit book have a chapter on bet sizing? limit has fixed betting...

Oh my god! You are right. I meant to say "pot odds". Sorry. The pot odds portion of the book should still apply to NL.

wow thanks guys great information. Put tidbits from all into play last night dollar sit n go. You all helped me to tune into really watching the board. I started to notice that there was an average bet size going around and if I had a good hand I'd push a bit but no where near pot size - until final 4 than I tried to be a little more agressive and stole some great little raises and blinds. I took 2nd pushed with 88 called AK A on the turn putting me out. Still very pleased with my play:-)

I'll check it out Stick thanks