Pot Control in MTTs

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Caissa

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I don't know if this belongs here or in the tournament thread but here goes.

I saw a video in which it was suggested not to get in any big pots in the early stages of the tournament. It also suggested controlling the pot but I'm not sure how to do that. Before hearing this i was pfr 3bb + 1bb/limper and I was c-betting 3/4 of the pot post flop. I play mostly freeroll and 0.05 buy-ins so with a lot of limpers (which there normally are) this can be a big portion of my stack. I went down to 2bb + 1/limper and c-bet 1/2 of the pot. I figure pot odds are not really that important because I don't think my opponents really pay much attention to them any way. Even with this formula I can put quite a big portion of my stack in the pot (the freerolls start you out with shorter stacks anyway)

So am I putting to much in the pot? Am I giving my opponents too good odds to call?
 
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SamBush

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Hey its not about the odds youre giving to call etc. The video is referring to not bloating the pot in possibly marginal situations... for example lets say you raise QJo from the button and the big blind calls the flop comes KJ4 rainbow they check usually you would c bet.... try checking back youre not getting too nuch action unless you are beat i know some straight draws call but you can figure out whether they have it on the turn or river by the cards that fall and their actions.... keeping the pot smaller means youll lose less if they make it.

The cool thing about it too is you disguise your hand the turn could come a 2 and they may now bet or check call a hand like 55 twice where as they may fold the flop to a c bet!
 
tARsh

tARsh

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Bet control is a very crucial topic when it comes to poker and as with many core concepts it is not only more complex than initially apparent it also is best utilized well at all times be that on a basic or more intricate level.
Basically I advocate playing ABCs of every one of the poker facets until you learn and see more situations. AKA tight is right for a new player while learning hand ranges.
Try and utilize your ranging of villains to control a pot for example if you are HU oop vs a weak aggro guy you put on 1 over with a 4 to flush on a XXY flop where you hold say tptk what results will your different betting options present?
Sizing your bets is super important here - calculate odds pot size and implied odds its not a difficult algorithm but it takes practice! Try 1 tabling and always doing all the math!
You can try and bet him out of the pot with an over bet he may call and be about 55/45 you. He may fold or flat ... what are the results of each what will the pot be on the turn... what cards that come will prohibit you from perpetuating the hand with equity? etc etc

In really short, use your ranges on opponents to make bets that not only maintain your equity but also encourage them to respond with a call raise or fold depending on what you want at that moment.

Blocker betting it a great example of this!
I often lead out with an underbet on a oesd or flushing flop when there are too many players and or I dont want to call an overbet from say middle 2 prs or am worried about a set... lots of times both these hands will flat me here one scared one trying to set me up and neither ranging me on the nut open ended strait draw etc. examples are out there as many times as there are players!
 
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