How Much To Bet Poker
Any poker game can be played with a limit betting structure, however. A Limit Texas Hold'em game played at $2/$4 limits generally means the blinds are $1/$2. Limit games are played with a 'small bet' and a 'big bet', with the big blind usually equal to the small bet.
- Betting in poker games are in three parts which are the low bet, the medium bet and the high bet. The more the players in a poker game bets increases the amount which can be win. Raising the bet in poker game is good as players who can not risk that amount will call a fold and in poker games, the fewer the opponents the better.
- Firstly, as a general rule of tournament bet sizing we should cbet 50-70% of the pot. However, because we are unsure if we’re actually ahead, and at this stage the pot will be worth around 20% of our stack if we are average, we don’t want to put too much into it.
- If there is $400 in the pot and player we bet $300 (75% of the pot), the pot will grow to $700. That means it will cost him $300 to have a chance of winning a pot of $700. To calculate his pot odds, we divide the pot size of $700 by the number of chips it would cost him to win the pot: $700/$300 = 2.33:1.
- To calculate your maximum bet, first pretend that you call that last bet. The total pot then contains 10 + 3 + 3 = $16. This is your maximum raise. With the $3 call your total maximum bet would then be $19.
Because it's a little bit more complicated than a standard Limit of No-Limit betting structure we've put together a specific article on How to Calculate the Pot Bet to help you understand how it's done.
The simple rule for making a pot-size bet is:
- You can raise the amount that is in the pot after you have called the previous bet.
Here are a few examples to make things clearer.
How to Make a Pot Bet in Poker -- Examples
Pot Bet Example 1
Situation: There's $10 in the pot. You're first to act.
How much can you bet? You can bet $10.
Simple, right? Now we'll make it a little harder.
Pot Bet Example 2
Situation: There's $10 in the pot and a player has bet $3.
How much can you bet? To calculate your maximum bet, first pretend that you call that last bet. The total pot then contains 10 + 3 + 3 = $16.
This is your maximum raise. With the $3 call your total maximum bet would then be $19.
Still with us? Now let's make it a little more complicated.
Pot Bet Example 3
Situation: There's $10 in the pot, one player has bet $3 and another player has raised to $10.
How much can you bet? First, pretend that you call the last bet of $10. The pot then contains 10 + 3 + 10 + 10 = $33.
Your pot raise is $33 and your total bet is $43.
Got it? Even if you're struggling a bit to get your mind around it, don't give up. There are a couple of smart tricks you can use to make it even easier.
If you want to play Pot-Limit poker (like, say, Pot-Limit Omaha) live, you should definitely learn them as you'll need to calculate your pot bets on the fly with a table of other players watching.
If you play your Pot-Limit Omaha online, though, you'll get some help with the betting functions.
How to Make a Pot Bet - Tips & Tricks
If you're playing Pot-Limit poker on online poker sites, the poker client will tell you exactly how much you're allowed to bet. In live poker, the common way to do this is to just say the word 'pot' out loud before you bet.
This establishes that you intend to bet the maximum. Then you can take your time to figure out how much that is.
The Simple 3x Rule for Pot Bets in Poker
Here's another really helpful trick that you can use to calculate the correct size of a pot bet:
- To get your maximum bet, multiply the last bet by three and add all other bets, including the original pot.
Does that sound insane to you? That's probably a sane reaction. But the truth is, it actually works!
Let's go through the same examples from above again, this time applying the 3x Rule.
Example 1
Situation: There's $10 in the pot. You're first to act.
How much can you bet? So, 3x the last bet is zero (no one has bet yet). Add the rest of the bets including the pot, which amounts to $10.
Example 2
Situation: There's $10 in the pot and a player has bet $3.
How much can you bet? 3x the last bet is 9 (3 x 3 = 9). Add $10 from the original pot and you get $19.
Example 3
Situation: There's $10 in the pot, one player has bet $3 and another player has raised to $10.
How much can you bet? 3x the last bet (3 x 10) is $30. Add $10 + $3 and you get $43.
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Luckily, this simple rule of thumb for pot bets works just as well in the first betting round when the blinds are on the table.
If the small blind is $1 and the big blind $2, the max bet is (3 x 2) + 1 = 7. With two limpers before you, the pot bet is (3 x 2) + 1 + 2 + 2 = 11.
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How to bet in Poker
Betting is the backbone of any game of poker. As such, knowing the options when it comes to placing those bets is the key to making a casino trip more fun. It can also help players stick to a gaming budget. While each variation of poker has its own particular set of betting rules, there are a few universal elements across all games. Check them out.
Betting
Once a player has examined their cards, it’s time to place a bet. This is done by deciding how much to wager, and placing the corresponding value of chips on the table. For example, if a player wants to bet $5, they’ll need to place one $5 chip, or five $1 chips on the table.
What to do
Push your chips over the line towards the centre of the table
What to say
“I bet $5”
TIP
In poker, verbal betting statements are binding. If the amount you verbalize doesn’t match the amount of chips you put down, the dealer will go with the amount you said.
Calling
In basic terms, calling is a bet made to keep play moving and see the next card. In some poker variations, calling can also be used to trigger a showdown—the moment all hands at the table are revealed. A “call” wager is equal to the amount of the last bet placed around the table.
Calling is an action a player may take when they’re feeling confident that they have a strong hand, or that an opponent might be bluffing.
What to do
Push an equal amount of chips across the line in the middle of the table.
What to Say
“Call”
Checking
Logistically speaking, checking isn’t a bet. Rather, it’s an action that can happen during certain rounds of betting. Checking allows a player to effectively skip their turn without taking any action.
When a player checks, they pass to the next player and defer their right to bet on the round. They can still raise, call or fold in subsequent rounds. For novice poker players, this action is often seen as a way to extend play without investing more money in the hand.
What to do
Knock twice on the table with your fist
What to Say
“Check”
Raising
Raising means to make a bet that’s larger than any other bet on the table. This action forces all other players at the table to make a choice: match or raise their own bet and stay in the game, or fold.
Typically, raising is done when a player believes they may be holding the best hand at the table, but it is also used as a bluffing tactic by some experienced poker players.
What to do
Push your raise amount in chips across the line, into the middle of the table
What to Say
“I raise $4”
TIP
Play safe and smart. If you raise, keep in mind that other players have the option of re-raising, which will force you to match the newly increased amount to stay in the game.
Folding
Folding is the act of ending participation in a poker hand. A player can fold on any round of a hand, including right off the deal, but must wait until their turn to act. Usually this takes place when a player feels their hand has no chance of winning the round.
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Folding also means the player forfeits all their bets, and is prohibited from making any further bets on the round.
What to do
Throw or lay your cards, face down, across the line on the table.
What to say
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“Fold”