No Limit Holdem – Betting
Unlike Limit Holdem, where you have fixed betting structures, no-limit let’s you decide what to bet. If you are the first player to come into the pot, you have the option to fold, call the minimum, (the big blind) or you can bet anywhere from double the big blind, to all of your chips.
It is very important to remember, especially with all-in situations, is that you need a bigger hand to call with, than to bet with.
Consider the following situations:
- When you call all-in you have one chance of winning, so you must show the best hand at the river.
- When you are the better, you can win two ways; everyone can fold and you win, or you show the best hand on the river and win.
Normally if you are going to raise, raise it 3-4 times the big blind.
What you bet is influenced by your cards, how many chips you have and your opponents have, the size of the blinds, your opponents playing technique, and what you are trying to do. For example if you are on the button with A-A and everyone folds to you, the blinds are $5-$10 and you only have $50 in chips you might consider making a small raise to $25 hoping to get action so you can double up.
In another example you might be on the button with AQ and have $40 with the blinds $5-$10 and everyone folds to you. Here you would move all-in thinking your AQ was the best hand, and being happy to win the blinds right then and there, if everyone folds.
In Other times, you might try to trap someone when you flop a big hand. For example, if you are first to act with 9-9 and the flop comes 9-3-J; you’ll want to consider checking. You hope that the players behind you bet so you can reraise trapping them with your trips.
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