How to Size Your Bets in Poker: Foundations Every Texas Hold’em Player Must Know

[antonis32123]

Thank you for thi# thread and the info on how to size our bets .
I try to bet a lot when I have a good hand on the| flop , I see many freeloaders , limpers , checking trying to get a free card , I bet very large to deny any equity , but I check the pot size in comparison to their stack . Generally I play passively waiting for the winning card on one of the| next streets , that I try to stop it now , it doesn't reward me . You have to bet if you want reward , how much and when is sth I still learn .

 

[hobojim1247]

My bet sizing will most often depend on what I want my opponent to do. If I want to keep them in the pot I will size my bet so they will call. If I have a strong made hand will keep them in with a smaller size. In a multi way pot I will sometime bet large enough to decrease opposition. One thing I always do pre flop is go all in with AA, any position, any opponents, 95% of the time. I get lots of blinds and antes that way.

 

[RodrigoMartins]

Great start to the series — bet sizing is one of the most misunderstood fundamentals, especially for newer players. I really like the emphasis on knowing why we’re betting before choosing a size. That simple question alone can prevent so many costly mistakes.

One beginner leak I see often is using the same sizing regardless of board texture — for example, betting small on wet boards where protection and denial are critical. Understanding when to scale up or down is a huge edge.

Looking forward to the next lessons in the series.

 

[bapfel]

For me would be very helpful to talk about bet sizing in the bubble,
I am in early position UTG, having 13 BB left, and I am in the top half of the field (ITM rank), 2-3 players left who had to go out in the bubble.

example I hold AKo UTG and two aggressive players sometimes 3-bet shove to collect chips in the bubble.
When they call a small 2.5 BB bet and I don`t hit the flop they will raise in position and I have to fold. So it is correct to shove or fold that hand, even when I have 10 BB+ ??

 

[hardongear]

For me would be very helpful to talk about bet sizing in the bubble,
I am in early position UTG, having 13 BB left, and I am in the top half of the field (ITM rank), 2-3 players left who had to go out in the bubble.

example I hold AKo UTG and two aggressive players sometimes 3-bet shove to collect chips in the bubble.
When they call a small 2.5 BB bet and I don`t hit the flop they will raise in position and I have to fold. So it is correct to shove or fold that hand, even when I have 10 BB+ ??

My opinion it depends on what you're playing for.....if one is playing for a min cash and too pad their ITM% that's great but that's losing poker long term.

So in this spot I'm shoving hoping for folds to win the pot or too double up so I can run deep and make above nickels and dimes.

Why does playing to min cash not make money long term? Because you'll never min cash enough times in a row to make a profit long term.....you gotta run deep to make real money long term. Most winning players only make the money 17-25% of the time. To make money long term min cashing the MTT would have to pay at least triple+ the buy-in. No online MTT pays that or even double the buy-in for min cashing.

I hate the pay out structures of online MTT's. When I hold home game MTT's I always make sure last place pays at least double the buy-in. All my players love that type of structure. Even at double it's not a making money long term if one's goal is only to min cash.

I also don't consider even look at or consider playing ICM till I'm in the money. When you're so short stack chances are you're not ever getting a better hand then the one in your example. So let bad boy rip all-in and learn to live with how it plays out win or lose the hand don't let it get to you mentality.

To each their own but that's how I play it....the goal is NEVER to just slide into the money.

Cheers!!!

 

[frank174]

great article. I like to think I play each and every hand different unique to the situation , I play the players and adjust as I go,there is no deadfast rule, this is even more important when playing live

 

[Mario7]

Excellent article, thank you!
I used to make it simplier (at least simplier by name )
I have only 2 reasons I bet:
1. For value
2. As a bluff
Protection and equity denial for me is part of 1. Value betting - if the opponent wants to see more cards, they pay and my bet size should consider the price they need to pay.
Here we come to bet sizing - I try to adjust them to board texture, ranges, opponents tendencies, pot size, stack sizes, SPR... hmm I think I haven't missed anything important