Poker Strategy
Poker Betting Guide
Master bet types, sizing strategy, and when to check. From value bets to bluffs, preflop opens to river overbets.
Betting is how you make money in poker. Every chip you put in the pot should have a purpose - extracting value, denying equity, generating fold equity, or gathering information.
This guide covers the types of bets, how to size them correctly, and critically, when not to bet. Modern strategy informed by GTO solvers has refined our understanding of optimal betting - and it's more nuanced than "bet big with good hands."
Types of Bets
Value Bet
A bet made when you believe your hand is stronger than your opponent's, wanting them to call with an inferior hand. The goal is to extract maximum chips.
Key principle: Size to get called by worse hands. Against recreational players, you can often bet larger because they call with weaker holdings. Against strong players, finding the right size is crucial.
Bluff (Pure Bluff)
A bet made with a hand that has little to no chance of winning if called. Success depends entirely on fold equity - your opponent must fold for you to win.
GTO bluff frequency: Your bluff ratio should match the pot odds you offer. Half-pot bet = ~25% bluffs. Pot-sized bet = ~33% bluffs. Overbets = higher bluff frequency.
Semi-Bluff
A bet or raise with a drawing hand that may be behind currently but can improve to win on later streets. You have two ways to win: opponents fold now, or you hit your draw.
Best semi-bluff hands: Flush draws (9 outs, ~35% by river), open-ended straight draws (8 outs), combo draws (15+ outs). Position matters - in position is vastly superior for semi-bluffs.
Continuation Bet (C-Bet)
A bet made on the flop by the preflop raiser, continuing the aggression regardless of whether the flop helped. You're capitalizing on the initiative you established preflop.
Frequency guidelines: In position: ~70-80% on favorable boards. Out of position: ~40-50%. Multiway pots: significantly less - someone usually has something.
Blocking Bet
A small bet (20-33% pot) made out of position to prevent opponents from making larger bets. Used with medium-strength hands that want to see a showdown cheaply.
When to use: River, out of position, with a hand that's likely good (>50% equity) but not certainly best. Checking opens you to difficult decisions versus large bets.
Overbet (>100% Pot)
A bet larger than the pot, used to maximize value with the nuts or to pressure opponents with capped ranges. More common on later streets.
When to overbet: You have nutted hands your opponent can't beat, their range is capped (they've shown weakness), and you must include bluffs to stay balanced (~33-40% bluff ratio for 1.5-2x pot overbets).
Bet Sizing Strategy
Preflop Opens
| Situation | Size |
|---|---|
| Standard open (any position) | 2.5-3x BB |
| Add per limper | +1x BB |
| Button open | 2-2.5x BB |
| 3-bet in position | 2.8-3x original raise |
| 3-bet out of position | 3.5-4x original raise |
Critical: Sizing should NOT vary based on hand strength. Use consistent sizing whether value betting or bluffing.
C-Bet Sizing by Board Texture
| Board Type | Example | Size | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | K-7-2 rainbow | 25-33% pot | Higher (70-80%) |
| Medium | J-9-4 one suit | ~50% pot | Medium (50-60%) |
| Wet | J-T-8 two-tone | 66-75% pot | Lower (30-40%) |
Modern strategy favors 33% pot as a default for in-position c-bets on dry textures. Larger sizes are reserved for polarized ranges on wet boards.
Turn & River Sizing
Turn
- • Small (25-40%): Range bets, thin value
- • Big (60-88%): Polarized (nuts or air)
- • Overbet (125%+): Strong nut advantage
River
- • Most polarized street
- • Value: Size to get called by worse
- • Bluff: Match frequency to pot odds
When NOT to Bet
Board Favors Opponent's Range
If the flop heavily connects with your opponent's calling range more than your raising range, checking is often correct. Example: You raise UTG with AK, BB calls. Flop is 8-7-6 with two clubs. This board smashes the BB's range (suited connectors, middle pairs) more than yours.
Multiway Pots
In pots with 3+ players, dramatically reduce your c-bet frequency. With multiple opponents, someone usually has connected with the board. Your bluffs face multiple chances to get called, and your value hands need to be stronger.
Inducing Bluffs
Sometimes checking with a strong hand lets aggressive opponents hang themselves. If you have a hand that beats most value bets but blocks the hands that would call, checking to induce a bluff can be higher EV than betting.
Protecting Your Checking Range
If you always bet your strong hands and only check weak hands, observant opponents will attack every time you check. You must include some strong hands in your checking range to stay balanced.
Position Impact on Betting
In Position (IP)
- • Bet more frequently (~70-80% c-bet)
- • Can use smaller sizing profitably
- • Better bluff success rate
- • Control pot size by checking back
- • Play wider ranges profitably
Out of Position (OOP)
- • Bet less frequently (~40-50% c-bet)
- • Use larger sizing when betting
- • Check-raise more often
- • Protect checking range with strong hands
- • Play tighter preflop ranges
Common Betting Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
›What's the right size for a continuation bet?
It depends on board texture. On dry boards (like K-7-2 rainbow), bet smaller (25-33% pot) more frequently. On wet boards (like J-8-6 two-tone), bet larger (50-75% pot) less frequently. Modern strategy favors 33% pot as a baseline for in-position c-bets on dry textures.
›How often should I be bluffing?
Your bluff frequency should match the pot odds you're offering. If you bet half-pot, your opponent gets 3:1 odds (25%), so ~25% of your betting range should be bluffs. Pot-sized bets justify ~33% bluffs. This keeps you balanced and unexploitable.
›What's a value bet vs a bluff?
A value bet is made when you believe your hand is stronger than your opponent's and you want them to call with a worse hand. A bluff is made with a weak hand hoping your opponent folds a better hand. Semi-bluffs are bets with draws that can improve.
›How much should I open raise preflop?
Standard is 2.5-3x the big blind from any position, adding 1 big blind per limper. Some players use smaller opens (2-2.5x) from late position. The key is consistency - don't size differently based on hand strength.
›When should I check instead of bet?
Check when: the board heavily favors your opponent's range, you want to induce bluffs with a strong hand, you're protecting a checking range, or betting would only get called by hands that beat you. In multiway pots, check more often than heads-up.