How to bet in poker: a basic guide
The first steps into the world of poker can always seem complex. In fact, some of the difficulty is due to the number of concepts – many of which are known in the form of English expressions. However, it is only a matter of time before you become familiar with them to understand them and be able to play without any complications, except – of course – to form your strategy, which requires work and practice. Defining our strategy will allow us to decipher our opponents, manage our bankroll properly and, of course, decide how and when to bet in poker to make our hand a winning one.
In this article we are going to focus on the latter point. We’re going to answer the question of how to bet in poker and when to bet in poker – we’ll give you some tips and techniques to improve your basic strategy. If you are just starting out with this fascinating card game popular around the world, then we recommend you read on.
How to bet in poker
When it comes to our turn at poker we have several options to follow, depending on our position at the table and with respect to the dealer or the big and small blinds. These are the possibilities that are open to us in a game:
How to bet in poker for the first time.
Until the first bet is made, each player has the possibility to carry out the following actions:
- Check: In this case, the player decides not to bet. Players can only check at this point in the game, when there is no bet. When they do so, it is up to the next player to intervene in a clockwise direction. If all players pass, the game continues, but the round is over. In other words, the next round will be moved on and the appropriate card will be dealt.
- Open. This is when the game is opened with the first bet placed by the first player.
How to bet in poker after the first bet
After one of the players has made an open the remaining opponents will have to continue by taking one of the following actions. These are:
- Fold: In this case, the player folds the hand and loses all bets placed so far. Once you fold you will not be able to win or re-raise as you will lose your cards.
- Call: This means that you call the highest bet placed so far to remain active and continue on the next street.
- Raise. This means that you see the bet and raise. Players can only raise if other players have previously bet. To perform this action, the highest bet placed must be matched and then a higher bet placed. All players must either call (call) or raise again (re-raise).
How to bet in poker: blinds and antes
To give dynamism in poker there are some figures that are known as blinds and antes. In the case of the blinds, these can be of two types, the big blinds and the small blinds. The blinds are compulsory bets that are made before the cards are known (in the preflop phase). They exist in poker games in which the game is played without antes – compulsory bets of the same value made by all players before the cards are dealt. The blinds are characteristic of the Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker variants and their value depends on the modality that is being played within these two poker variants mentioned – that is, if it is played with limit or no limit bets. In the case of a limit game, the Big Blind is equal to the Small Blind and the Small Blind is equal to half the Big Blind (the value of the Small Blind would be half the minimum bet).
The way it works is as follows. The dealer or button – the player who will be the dealer – is decided. Then the blinds are assigned. The Small Blind is the player sitting to the left of the dealer and the Big Blind to the left of the Small Blind. They then place their bets in clockwise order, i.e. Small Blind first, then Big Blind. Once the bets have been made, the dealer deals the cards – depending on which way they are dealt, more or fewer cards will be dealt. He then starts the game with the player immediately to the left of the Big Blind. This position is known as Under the Gun (UTG). This player has the option to make an open or check.
Should I bet in poker on every hand?
The answer is no. Betting in poker depends on how good your cards are, there are times when you will have no choice but to fold and lose your bets to avoid a bigger flop. As a general rule, in poker remember that the more hands you play the more hands you will lose, but the more hands you play the more chances you have of winning. It depends on the type of player you are, if you are more aggreessive or more passive, you will play more or less cards, but remember that in any case your strategy must come first. We recommend that you pay close attention to what other players are doing at the table and, if you notice that your opponents are too loose or passive, tighten up with your bets.
When to bet in poker
We’ve already looked at how to bet in poker, but it’s important to keep in mind some strategic tips on when to bet in poker. Here are some of the things to keep in mind:
- Know what the outs and odds are at all times.
- Manage your bankroll properly.
- Calculate your available buy-ins and be aware of how a loss would affect you.
- When you have a monopoly on the board and are betting for value.
- Betting for protection, but with a chance to improve on the following streets and beat your opponent.
- Bluffing.
