Persistent callers

When you think your opponent has a pair with a weak kicker, how much should you bet to take the pot ? I always bet half the pot but that doesn't make them fold. Is 2/3 better or should I just bet the pot ?

If you have a better hand then why do you want them to fold? I prefer players with 2nd best hands to pay me as much as possible. In that case I will bet the most I think I can get a call from.

If you mean bluff, I am sure you have heard the phrase "don't bluff a calling station" It means exactly that don't bluff people who will call with anything.

The only reason I can think of that you'd want someone with a weaker hand then yours to fold is if the board is scary/drawy and you don't want a suck out. Otherwise, you want to value bet your best hand and get as much of his money into your pot as possible.

How much it takes to get a calling station off a hand really depends on the player. I play with a couple of those types on a regular basis and my way of dealing with it is to make them pay dearly for calling me with a weak draw. Yeah, sometimes they hit it, but over the long term, I've made a lot of money from people who don't know when to stop chasing.

You should never be afraid of having a calling station at the table. Those kinds of players are most often very profitable.

As SteveG says, if a calling station has hit the board with a pair or w/e then stop betting if you don't have a hand coz you will not get them off theirs. Only bet into them when you have a decent holding.

I meant if you're holding second pair and your opponent has tp with a weak kicker.

I think he means how does he stop them from trying to draw out against him. (op, correct me if i have that wrong)
If I don't have it wrong then I am not sure the amount will stop a calling station, if they are not a complete donk, a continuation bet will usually do the trick. and yes I bet pot and pot again, if they missed on the turn they are more likley to lay down post turn. IMO

First of all if you have 2nd pair to a calling station you should fold most of the time and wait for a better hand to get his chips. Really the only situation in my mind you can put the screws to him is when you have a fair amount of chips and he/she's short stacked. In that situation an all in bet will probably put him off of it (I find that the only thing a calling station type player MIGHT be scared of is an all-in bet). Otherwise maybe put out a probing bet and be willing to let it go on a raise.

But that's just my opinion

so a bluff then

if they are passive check and take the free card to try to improve a better hand. Don't put anymore chips in the pot while you are behind.

If they are aggressive, check/fold again don't put anymore money in the pot.

the way to beat calling stations is to value bet the crap out of your made hands knowing they will not fold second best hands.

A bit of a tangent here, but bluffing with second pair isnt general a great idea as it has showdown value. exceptions of course but if you are to bluff, which is discourage against calling stations, dont do it with decent holdings. That is not to say you want to charge draws or value bet with second pair type hands in optimal situations but dont use it as as hand to get a station(or anyone) off a TPBK hand.

Call stations are great, the only way you play them is never bluff, and always bet your strong hands. They are the best for making money off of.

I too wonder why you would want them to fold. The point is to get them to call you if you think you have them beat. You may lose on a suckout, but when you think you have them beat, try and suck their whole stack out of them if you think it is possible.


~H

im not into calling to often i think its best to raise if you have the best hand. now how much you raise is the big question.

You have to play the player in this situation. Determine who will and won't let go of top pair. If you have second pair and you know you're up against a calling station don't bet. If you know a player is likely to fold, bet away. The amount of the bet will depend on the player as well. All things considered, check/mucking second pair is usually the best play unless you know you can get a tight opp to fold.

Ask yourself this question;

When was the last time YOU mucked TP any kicker on the flop, and what bet did you muck them too? Also ask yourself if you could do it regularly.

From your OP, and the follow up, I'd pin YOU as someone who would seldom if ever fold TPBK on the flop. So what makes you think you are special and that they would fold to you in the same situation?

I usually play tight, so if I have someone who just calls and doesn't reraises me I figure they have a weak kicker and if I bet enough they might fold.

ya i always bet strong so if they have trash and want too call good for them ill change it up bit so i can keep them callen me but you dont want folding by donkeys like that and if you ee they have been getting lucky with weak cards you might have too change up your play depending on how lucky they are with there junk ,but i think if you can read player good push the pot up up up lol