Why should you always check to the preflop agressor ?

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Papier24

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So many pros recommend you to check with every hand to the pre flop aggressor. I'm always following this rule but when I get confrontated with a donk bet I do question this rule since even as the preflop aggressor I often miss the board completly and have to fold.
When you always follow this rule you always give the preflop aggressor the chance to win the pot with a c-bet even when both players missed.

I understand the rule when you call a preflop raise on the button against the player utg because he has the better hand most of the time. But when you call a raise from the cut off when you're in the big blind both players have a similar range.

So should you really always check to the preflop aggressor ?
 
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Dani_California

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I don't think you should ALWAYS check to the preflop aggressor. Mix up the game every now and then. But I usually check whether I hit or miss and then make my decisions from there on based on my opponents move and the strength of my hand. Sometimes a check/raise is a powerful move if you think that your opponent has nothing and he's just making that cbet. You kind of take back the power there. So that's one way to win the pot after checking even if you have nothing. You also don't have to win every pot so sometimes that check/fold is the right play.
 
vinnie

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I'm always following this rule but when I get confrontated with a donk bet I do question this rule since even as the preflop aggressor I often miss the board completly and have to fold.

The following applies to hold'em, specifically. There's some very good spots to donk bet in Omaha.

Do you not see how this is a disadvantage to the donk bettor? When they hit, they are generally at your mercy. If you missed and have nothing, you just fold and they make no money. Where, if they had checked, you would usually c-bet and they make money from your missed hands. This is one reason you usually want to include "c-bet flop" in your HUD, if you play with one.

Donk bets are usually weak hands, rarely complete bluffs but that happens too. If you raise the flop donk bet, you'll get more folds than you expect. Or, you can float (just call) and see what they do on the turn. Now, they need to decide if they're going to fire twice. They're going to make less than if they check to you on the flop.

Playing out of position sucks. The donk bet is one of the reasons it sucks. You don't make much when you hit, because the other person gets to avoid calling your bets when they have nothing. You are in a spot where bluffing is difficult because you have to bluff before seeing what the other player does.

I am fine with donk betting for value against people who have low c-bet stats, are generally passive, and who call down or chase too frequently. Those players won't make the bets for you. I might also donk bet against people who fold to flop bets very frequently (your fit or fold types) and don't float or apply positional pressure. Everything is based on the specific situation. Ask yourself, how do I make the most money from this specific player based on the hands he is likely to have? Will he bet as a bluff but fold to a bet when he misses? If so, donk less often. Will he float with nearly all of his range and apply pressure on the turn? If so, how many of the turn cards will be good for his range and bad for your hand? You might be less inclined to donk bet in that spot.
 
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PKRNRS

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They are the pros and play a different game.
 
thetick33

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i do not always check to preflop aggressor I wouldnt do that have to mix it up

your job is to make the other players think
 
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JordanPoker3

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I tilts me when someone donk bets (probably why I'm losing atm) anything that annoys and makes an opponent thinks is a good move. Sporadically of course otherwise you'll become to predictable.
 
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Mcash2

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Donk Bets I've Noticed

First of all, you hope not to be both OOP and not the aggressor too often after the flop. Often is a product of -EV limping. 6max, or in full-ring even, you shouldn't be limping often, as you are missing information that might better define V flop or turn donk bets. There are many reasons you'll see a donk bet; some weak and some strong.

Donk bets:

1 - non conformist bet - Bet size anywhere from min-raise to push. Often a level 1 poker thinker and a newbie making his way up the ranks. V doesn't know or care about the rule in their system. They unknowingly just play their hand without regard to position or aggressor. Obviously a losing player overall, no matter what his stack looks like that session. Generally doesn't define newbies hand for you although bet sizing may help. They make their play, whether air bluff, semi-bluff, top set on a dry board, TPTK, or bottom pair no kicker when it is their turn, because well, it's their turn. Usually doesn't apply online past micro stakes, so you can easily disregard in most cases, therefore you can knock this option off the list except in rarest of donk bets.


2 - Blocking bet - Usually min-raise up to 1/2 pot; especially min-raise. Usually V wants to see that next card cheaply with a draw of some sort. Villain just let you know that he is weak, so do the opposite of what he wants, and make him pay with bad odds to see next street.

3 - Feeler bet - Usually min-raise up to 1/2 pot. Villain has a piece and is likely worried that he may be dominated or way behind. Not wanting to bow out weakly with his small piece, he is testing the waters. Second use of small probing bet, is to check if aggressor hit the A or K on a A-high or K-high flop respectively, for a later turn steal attempt. If you want him to go away now, smite V hard with a goodly-sized bet. If you want a few more chips, 1/2 pot or less might bring him along. Slightly more dangerous, on a dryish board you can smooth call, and hope for him to lead out on the turn.

4 - Bet-three-bet attempt - Full-range from min-raise up to PSB. B3B is reserved only for Odin's fearless Berserkers. V bets into you with the guile of a weakish-looking donk bet only to come back with a second blow. This highly-powerful maneuver makes the deceptively strong check-raise look like a min-raise by comparison. Only the brave or stupid would use this as a bluff for a miss-read can get expensive. It screams SET or completed connectivity on the flop and can make the PF aggressor toss TPTK in the muck.

So as you see, there are many forms of donk bets with multiple purposes, weak and strong. Bet sizing and player observations can help narrow meaning down. HUD stats can often give you a high likelihood of the donk bet's true intent.
 
1k95

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If I'm confident in my hand and he does not go all-in, then I'll check.
 
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Two6JJ

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Doing something the same in this game can become exploitable but some aggressive players can blast off their stack if you let them bluff. Giving them some rope with a check can be very profitable.
 
Iryna Stryzheuskaya

Iryna Stryzheuskaya

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Doing something the same in this game can become exploitable but some aggressive players can blast off their stack if you let them bluff. Giving them some rope with a check can be very profitable.
I like this option:)
 
deform fedot

deform fedot

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If I'm confident in my hand and he does not go all-in, then I'll check.

I agree with you. Sure hand is important. So why not answer at all, although if you have AA before the flop. If such a limp hand afraid poker client (program) will show you result disappointing, which can be called "Oh God no luck."
 
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