ODD BET SIZES

I have been noticing lately that a number of players are making strange sized bets , 299, 501, 239, 399, ect. Is there some new system being taught or is this maybe a program being used by these players?

If it was just 1 or 2 It might be coincidence but last night at least 2 peolple at 4 different tables were utiltizing this method.

I was playing a tourney on poker stars.

Sometimes I like to make odd bet sizes to just to vary my bet sizes and people are confused at why I bet an odd amount. I don't think it is a trend, just people messing with bet sizes.

It always makes me think when they do it that they are just messing with the other players. I have noticed I fold a lot more than usuall to these betters. That may be why they are doing it. Just like every thing else the more that do it, the less distracting it will be.

A lot of times, I notice they overbet on the flop. I do think it is a weird trend. They are just using their number keypad instead of the slider. When I first saw this, I just thought they were playing in the dark and couldn't see their keypads. lol

DREW0 said:

I have been noticing lately that a number of players are making strange sized bets , 299, 501, 239, 399, ect. Is there some new system being taught or is this maybe a program being used by these players?

If it was just 1 or 2 It might be coincidence but last night at least 2 peolple at 4 different tables were utiltizing this method.

I was playing a tourney on Poker Stars.

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It's to get those OCD players out of the pot

I think that some of them do it to induce a call. If you're not paying close attention it can look like they are going allin, hoping that you will call their 1599 bet and not notice the additional $20K that remains in front of them.

Another possibility is that, if you size it right, that big stack of chips you put in makes the bet seem bigger than it really is.

they could be doing it to throw people off.

but it can also be that they are using some type of program for multitabling and they use hot keys to bet a certain percentage of the pot like 1/4, 1/3 1/2, 3/4 ect.

also another reason why some might do it is because when they bet a weird uneven number the chips stack is biggger. like if they bet 399 it looks like a big bet visually, instead of betting 400 with a smaller stack. sounds weird but it kind of looks more intimidating.

well thats my guesses at least.

Mortis said:

It's to get those OCD players out of the pot

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I rofl'd so hard I got carpet burns.

There is one popular poker book out now that i've recently read that claims making odd bet sizes keeps your opponents honest or at least makes them think what you are up to.

It does make me think more, that is for sure. I am not usually thinking good thoughts. Come to think of it, I have noticed other players going on tilt more.

flipflops_n_shades said:

There is one popular poker book out now that i've recently read that claims making odd bet sizes keeps your opponents honest or at least makes them think what you are up to.

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What book is that flip? I'm a hopeless poker book and feel a deep need to know .

I agree, I think people do it because it makes the stack of chips they bet look bigger.

I do it just to throw people off a bit, and by using the odd remainder of my chip stack. Say my stack was 1537. Instead of betting 120, I may bet 137. That kind of thing...

I notice odd sized bets, think for a second, then do exactly what I was going to do anyway based on hand strength, ranges and player tendencies.

I don't really see the point, but some people seem to like to do it.

bredstik said:

I agree, I think people do it because it makes the stack of chips they bet look bigger.

I do it just to throw people off a bit, and by using the odd remainder of my chip stack. Say my stack was 1537. Instead of betting 120, I may bet 137. That kind of thing...

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The thing is, does it increase your fold equity (do you have stats that show this or do you just believe it does with no factual basis?)

If it dosent increase FE then are you doing this for value or as a bluff?

If its for value its good to put a few more chips in when you are ahead so long as people dont notice.

If its a bluff then your bluffs are now a bit more expensive and this will add up over time if there is no increase in FE.

I would suggest that there is very little increase in FE.

Ignore these odd pot bets. I tend to fold a bit more but i have learnt over time that these numbers are just trying to make you fold in my opinion. More people fold with weird size bets than straight up bets (100, 200). If they bet 199 just act as if it was 200

I think it's horrible that the sites even allow it in tournaments-- there wouldn't be any one dollar chips on the table in a live game, Yes, I know, interwebz =/= live poker, but personally I think it makes you look like a db when you bet that way: "hee hee hee, look at how clever I supposedly am, but really I'm probably giving away information by not doing this completely randomly (cause I'm human and I can't be completely random) hee hee hee".

I like your attitude AG--you have an inimitable way of getting down to the real nitty gritty as they used to say. But then, the minute I saw your poker book list I became seriously biased because I am a bibliophile too. Speaking of that, when I was scrolling through the responses to this thread, I noticed a missing critical word in my post:

LarkMarlow said:

What book is that flip? I'm a hopeless poker book and feel a deep need to know

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I meant to write "I'm a hopeless poker book junkie". While I may be certifiably zany, I certainly don't think I'm a book...