NL Bronze - Mathematik des Pokerns - Implied Pot Odds

After the flop an opponent raised before the flopStrategy: No-LimitWelcome to PokerStrategy.com, your professional poker school.

It is not often the case that you can just call a raise before the flop. The reason for this is simple it is rarely profitable. You want to be in control and you cant be if you play passively. The big exceptions to this case are, for example, small pocket pairs. They are very simple to play, because after the flop they will either have no or little value, or you will have a hand that you would like to go all in with.

At the same time, it is hard for your opponent to recognize how strong your hand really is if you hit it. Because from the structure of the flop cards, it is hard to see what kind of hand you have. A straight or a flush or also a flush draw are easier to recognize.

According to the starting hands chart, pairs are also the only hands with which you should even call a raise. However, there are always exceptions. First, if your opponent only made a minimum raise and secondly, if multiple players before you already called a raise. In these cases, particularly when you have position on the aggressor, you can also call with suited connectors. However, what is important is that your opponent has enough money in order to pay you off correspondingly if you hit.

So lets start by taking a look at the hands that you want to hit in order to continue to play actively after the flop1

What hands do you want to hit?What you want to hit Strong made hands like two pairs or better.A strong draw with eight or more outs (flush draw, OESD, combo-draw).

Slow play or notNo strong draws that could beat you can exist.Slow play only against a maximum of two opponents. If you have multiple opponents, play offensively.

QuestionsWhen should you slow play with a strong, made hand?When do you play strong draws passively and when do you play them aggressively?What do you do with average made hands, like a smaller over pair?

2We have already determined that you can call a raise with small pairs and sometimes also with suited connectors like 76s or 98s. Correspondingly, the range of hands that you want to hit and then play are strongly limited. In the best case, you want to hit strong made hands like three of a kind or two pairs, but at least a strong draw with 8 or more outs (thus, a flush draw or an OESD). If you dont hit the flop and you have a worthless hand, you shouldnt keep playing. A bluff against individual opponents that have checked before you can be considered, but should be used with caution.

The structure of the community cards is first of interest if you have to estimate whether or not you should slow play your hand in order to hide the strength of your hand or not.

The following applies for this: If you choose to slow play, no draws maybe possible.

The probability that your hand can be beat must be very low. Furthermore, you should only have one or at most two opponents. If this is not the case, play offensively.

Thus, we will address the following questions in this video:

When should you slow play with a strong made hand?When do you play strong draws aggressively and when do you play them passively?What do you do with average made hands like a smaller over pair (for example, pocket eights on a 742 rainbow flop)?

How do you play a strong made hand on the flop?You are out of positionYou bet.You check in order to raise if your opponent bets (check/raise).You check and only call a bet from your opponent (check/call).

You are in positionIf it is checked to you, you bet.If the aggressor makes a continuation bet, you should continue to raise on a draw-heavy board.If no good draws are possible, it is OK to just call.

You should always play a flush or two pair aggressively!

3 How you play a strong made hand particularly in regards to the slow play question depends on the number of opponents and how draw-heavy the community cards are. But there is still another important aspect: your position on the table. Are you before or after your opponents?

YOU ARE OT OF POSITIONThis occurs if you call a raise in the blind positions or if you limp in to the pot relatively early and somebody raises after you and you call. If you hit a strong made hand on the flop you have three options:

1. You bet.The more opponents you have and the more draws that are in the community cards, the more likely you should bet. With three opponents, even an aggressive player will only rarely bluff. If the flop allows for a lot of draws, the aggressor will rarely make a continuation bet. At the same time, however, the chances of your hand being beaten increase this is when you are vulnerable. Thus, you should bet.

2. You check in order to raise if your opponent bets (check/raise).If you are alone with the aggressor, a slow play is possible. You can check-raise, this means you first check so that you can raise later.

3. You check and if an opponent bets, you just call. (check/call).If the flop is also not dangerous, you can just check and then call a bet.

You can also be a little creative here. You do not always have to check-raise, but rather you can also make a small bet against very aggressive players, because they will often see this as a challenge to raise.

YOU ARE IN POSITIONThe easiest case is when everybody ahead of you checks. Then you should bet. The player who raised before the flop and should have made a bet on the flop didnt do this. Now it is your turn to bet, otherwise there will not be any money in the pot.

But if the aggressor makes a continuation bet, thats where it gets interesting. Because now the community cards receive importance. You should directly reraise if the community cards are very draw-heavy.

If no good draws are possible that could catch up to your hand, however, a call is absolutely OK.

You should always play a flush and two pair aggressively! You almost always have a lower flush or two lower pairs your opponents can have a lot of outs against you. Straights are better for slowplaying provided no flush draws are possible.

Example #1: strong made hand three of a kindHero (BU) $25 BB $25UTG1 $25Preflop:UTG1 raises $1, 6 folds, Hero calls $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75.Flop: ($3.10)BB checks, UTG1 bets $2.5, Hero calls $2.5.

4This is a good example in which a slowplay makes sense. With 88, you called the bet from UTG1 pre flop and you hit your set on the flop. The board is not draw-heavy, doesnt look dangerous and there is an ace on the flop. This is a very good flop to make a continuation bet as an aggressor. A lot of players will use it to make a bet even if they havent hit anything.

In this example, your opponent also raised in the early position. Normally, he will have an ace or something like pocket tens or jacks. If you just call his bet here, the chances are good that you will get even more money from all of these hands.

If you directly raise here, your opponent will simply fold a lot of hands, for example, pocket tens. It is not necessary to step on it here. The pot is $8 on the turn. If your opponent bets again, $20 on the river is too much and both of you would only have $15 left. Thus, you can also be all in on the river if you just call on the flop.

Example #2: strong made hand - flush Hero (BU)$25 UTG1 $25MP3 $25CO $25Preflop:UTG1 raises $1, 4 folds, MP3 calls $1, CO calls $1, Hero calls $1, 2 folds.Flop: ($4.35)UTG1 bets $2.5, 2 folds, Hero raises $9.

5In this example, you called with your suited connector before the flop, because two players before you already called the raise from UTG1.

On the flop, you hit a strong hand with the flush, but every higher spade will have a draw to a better flush. As already mentioned, you have to give it your all right away with this kind of flush and try to put your money in the middle as long as you have the best hand.

How do you play a strong draw on the flop?Passive playYour equity is between 25% and 45%. Aggressive play is usually unprofitable. If your draw comes on the turn, you will usually get at least one bet from your opponent before they give up.

Rule of thumbIn the later rounds, you have to be able to win at least two times your bet on the flop.

6With strong draws, there is a principle similar to pots in which nobody raised before you pre-flop. Aggressive play is normally not worth it, because your chances of winning are normally only between 25 and 45 percent.

However, you have good opportunities to win the pot in a later betting round and you can get even more money if your opponent has a strong hand. If they have, for example, a top pair or an overpair and your draw comes on the turn, you will usually get at least one bet from him before he gives up. Every once and awhile you will even get all of his money. In the strategy article or the corresponding video about implied pot odds, you learned what this means for your game.

A rule of thumb: you usually have to be able to win at least two times your investment on the flop in the later rounds in order to be able to call a relatively large bet. You and your opponents must still have enough money left over. You should definitely not call any bets that are more than the current pot size.

Example #3: strong draw- flush drawHero (BU) $25UTG3 $25MP1 $25BB $25Preflop:2 folds, UTG3 raises $0.5, MP1 calls $0.5, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.5, 1 fold, BB calls $0.25.Flop:($2.10)BB checks, UTG3 bets $1.75, 1fold, Hero calls $1.75.

7Here you are on the button with jack-queen of spades on the flop. In response to the continuation bet from the preflop aggressor (UTG3), you can make an easy call as we say in poker jargon. This means that you can call without any problems in this situation. You are in position on your opponents, you have a strong draw and it is possible that your opponent has a strong hand that he will invest more money with even if your flush comes in.

Example #4: strong draw - OESDHero (BU) $25 UTG3 $25MP1 $25BB $25Preflop:2 folds, UTG3 raises $0.5, MP1 calls $0.5, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.5, 1 fold, BB calls $0.25.Flop:($2.10)BB checks, UTG3 bets $4, 1fold, Hero folds.

8This example very clearly shows why an open ended straight draw (an OESD) is weaker than a flush draw apart from the extra out or more that a flush draw has anyway.

Here you have a very strong draw on the flop, but folding here is clearly the best alternative. Your opponent bets almost twice the size of the pot. The big bet alone would be enough reason to get out of this situation. In addition to this is the fact that your draw is not as strong as it appeared at first glance.

You got to know the term discounted outs in the video about odds & outs. In this example, you must discount your outs, because a flush draw is possible. The eight of clubs or three of clubs would give you a straight, but they would also make the possible flush that your opponent could have, they are not clean outs, which causes your chances of winning to decrease considerably. It would be a waste of money to place a large bet with such low chances of winning.

How do you play an average made hand on the flop?You are in positionWith multiple opponents, you should fold to a continuation bet.Sometimes you should call a bet if your opponent raised from a late position. However, you should fold to a second barrel on the turn.Optionally, you can raise a bet on the flop in order to immediately win the pot. This is particularly recommended for draw heavy flops.

You are out of positionOften, it is best to act first even against multiple opponents. You can win the flop right away or you can find out where you stand for a low price.

Large pots for strong hands, small pots for weak hands. Avoid forming a large pot with an average hand.

9 Hands in this category are the hardest to play. You have something in your hand that you wouldnt like to fold. On the other hand, however, your hand is never strong enough to take on more action. Sometimes, however, you are ahead, but it can quickly become very expensive to find this out.

According to the rule: large pots for strong hands and small pots for weak hands, you dont want to build a large pot with average hands like a top pair or a smaller pair, but rather to get to the show down for as little money as possible.

Pot control is very important here and immediately folding to a bet from your opponent is often the best course of action with these trouble hands. Moreover, the problem is that you can never be sure where you stand. If you are still ahead of your opponents, he will often still have good outs in order to make a better hand on the turn or river.

YOU ARE IN POSITIONIf you and multiple opponents called a raise, then it is better to give up average made hands to a continuation bet. You already know the reason for this: the more opponents, the less likely it is that a continuation bet is a bluff.

If you are playing alone with the aggressor, not much changes at first. Here you should also normally fold to a continuation bet. Even if you are currently ahead, your opponent can still catch up to you and it will be very expensive for you at the showdown. Particularly if an opponent from an earlier position raised, he usually has a strong hand and you should also believe him.However, if he raised in a late position, the probability increases that you are still ahead. You can also call a continuation bet on a flop that is both safe and not very draw heavy. If your opponent fires again on the turn, you should fold, because it is rarely a bluff.

Another possibility is to raise directly on the flop. It is ideal if your opponent immediately folds. If he raises again, you know where you stand and you can comfortably fold the worse hand. If he calls your raise, you should be careful. If he bets on the turn, then you should fold. If he checks you should check too. He had to have had something on the flop in order to call

It is different if the community cards allow for a lot of draws. You should always bet directly on the flop. Your goal here is to win directly. If your opponent does not fold, your move failed. You should not make any more large investments in this hand.

You will either get to the showdown for a very low price or you fold.

YOU ARE OUT OF POSITIONIf you dont have position on your opponent, it is often the case that you can be the aggressor. This is a good idea even against multiple opponents to find out where you stand. If somebody raises, you should fold independent of who it is. If somebody calls, you can make a new decision on the turn as to whether you act or fold.

Example #5: average made hand over pair + OESDHero (BU) $25 MP3 $25Preflop:Flop:($2.10)BB checks, UTG3 bets $1.75, 1fold, Hero calls $1.75.

5 folds, MP3 raises $1, Hero calls $1, 3 folds.10In this situation, it looks a whole lot better for you. You do not only have an over pair even if it is weak -, but rather also an OESD. Your cards are too strong to give up without a fight.

You can definitely call the bet here. Against opponents who raised in the middle position, you are more often ahead in comparison to playing against an opponent from the previous example who raised in the earlier position. And even if you arent ahead, you still have your OESD.

Sometimes it can also make sense to raise on the flop. But your hand is almost too good for this. If your opponent raises again, you have to fold your nice looking hand.

How do you play on the turn?Strong made handYou play aggressively and at latest now you take over the initiative.If you slowplayed the flop, you should make your action now.

Complete drawA complete draw should always be played aggressively!

Worthless hand or a weak drawIf your opponent acts, you fold.If you are heads-up, your opponent checked on the flop and checks again, you could try a bluff.

Average made handIf you called on the flop and the opponent checks on the turn, you should bet.If you raised his bet on the flop and he called, you should play passively.If you are playing OOP and the opponent did not bet on the flop, you should bet on the turn.If you bet on the flop and the opponent called, you should give upon the turn.

11 YOU HAVE A STRONG MADE HANDOn the turn, you should play according to the similar principles as on the flop. If you have a strong made hand, you should play aggressively or you should take over the initiative now. If you slow played the flop, you must act now.An exception to this is if your opponent plays so aggressively that you can get the rest of his money in the pot by continuing to slow play compared to making a bet yourself. A lot of players on the smaller limits are too passive for this and it is often a mistake to slow play too much.YOU COMPLETED A DRAWIf you played a draw on the flop and you can complete it on the turn, then you should always play aggressively. Particularly if your opponent has position on you, it is a big mistake to not act here.YOU HAVE A WORTHLESS HAND OR A WEAK DRAWYou should play worthless hands and weak draws as you normally do. If your opponent bets, you should fold.There is an exception: you are heads-up on the turn and you have a draw. If your opponent already checked on the flop and checks again after seeing the community cards, then you can maybe try to bluff here.The main requirement for this remains the same: your opponent must be able to fold often enough. If they stick to their cards or if they could have hit something, it is not worth bluffing.If he calls your bet, you at least have a little reassurance through your draw that could still come on the river. Never bluff if you dont have any insurance of maybe having the best hand on the river.YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE MADE HANDWith average made hands, your play on the turn is difficult. If you called a bet on the flop and your are in position, then you should fold to a renewed bet on the turn. If your opponent checks, it is best for you to bet here. If your opponent raises, you should fold as usual. A reason to bet would be that the type of play bet on the flop, check on the turn (bet flop, check turn) for somebody who raised before the flop often means that he does not have a good hand and that he doesnt want to try to bluff.It is different if your opponent bets on the flop, you raise and he calls the raise. If your opponent plays the turn aggressively, then you should immediately fold. This is often the case of a strong hand. Even if your opponent only checks, you should be careful. It would be best for you to check as well and wait for the river. A bet is usually not worth it in this situation. You will usually only run away worse hands and often pay off better hands.If your opponent has position on you, there are two options. If they did not attack the flop, you should take advantage of the opportunity to make a bet on the turn. If you already bet on the flop and your opponent called, then you should almost always give up your hand on the turn.It may seem illogical, but through a renewed bet on the turn, a worse hand will rarely pay you off. Thus, you turn your hand into a bluff. Here it doesnt matter that you have a made hand that could also win a showdown. If you bet, then it is a bluff, because worse hands would rarely call and the only advantage is that you will force better hands to fold. And that is the definition of a bluff.

Example #6: How to play on the turn three of a kindHero (SB) $25 BU $25Preflop:Flop: ($2.25)Hero checks, BU bets $1.4, Hero raises $5, BU calls $3.6.7 folds, BU raises $1, Hero calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Turn: ($12.25)Hero bets $8, BU calls $8.12No perfect turn card . Even if you were sure that you had the best hand on the flop, now a king-queen would beat you, for example.

On the other side, your opponents must also be afraid of this combination provided they dont have this hand themselves. Additionally, your hand is very strong and there are a lot of worse hands that could pay you off. If your opponent were to raise your bet, you could go all-in without a problem.

Example #7: how to play on the turn over pairHero (BU) $25 CO $25Preflop:Flop: ($2.35)CO bets $1.5, Hero raises $5, CO calls $3.5.6 folds, CO raises $1, Hero calls $1, 2 folds.Turn: ($12.35)CO checks, Hero checks.

13Heres another example, Its also close here. You still have an over pair with nines on the turn and thus, a made hand, but this is not a very strong hand

If you know that your opponent often goes to the showdown and only folds a few hands, you can bet again.

Against a better player, in contrast, you are usually beaten. He would not call on the flop out of position if he only had a draw. Therefore, it is correct to put him on a made hand here most of the time. The next problem is that he often simply folds made hands that you could beat, but doesnt fold those that could beat you.

Thus, you should check and take a look at the river in order to make a new decision here.

How do you play on the river?You should continue to play strong made hands, worthless hands and non-made draws as before.

Average made hands in positionIf you bet on the turn and your opponent called, but then bets on the river, you should fold.If your opponent bet on the flop, you called and you both checked on the turn, you can call a bet on the river as long as it is half of the pot size or less.

Average made hands out of positionIf you bet on the flop and on the turn, you should check on the river. If your opponent bets, you can fold without thinking about it.If you both checked on the turn, you should bet a little more than half of the pot size. If your opponent raises, you are definitely behind and you should fold.

14In the last betting round, nothing has changed yet. If you have a strong made hand, you should play aggressively. You should fold worthless hands and draws that did not come in.

Only the average made hands will be a cause for a headache. How you play depends on your action in the prior betting rounds. If you have the option of coming to the showdown without another bet, you should take advantage of this. If you bet, this will often cause what we talked about for the turn: you turn your hand into a bluff. There are rarely any worse hands that would pay you off.

Now the question is how you should play if your opponent bets and you are in position. If you bet on the turn and he only called and then suddenly plays the river aggressively, it is better to fold here (unless his bet is very small). You are rarely ahead against an opponent who plays like this.

It is a different situation if your opponent bet on the flop and you called. You both checked on the turn. On the river, your opponent bets again. If the bet isn't too high, so about half the pot size or less, then you should call. If they make a higher bet, you often have to be ahead in order to make such a call profitable.

If you do not have position on your opponent, but rather he has position on you, then there are multiple options available to you. If you bet on the flop or raised and you also bet on the turn, it is improbable that your opponent will call again or raise with worse cards. In this case, you should just check. If your opponent bets, you can easily fold.

If you both checked on the turn, then it is better to make another smaller bet of about more than half the pot size on the river. This is how you can avoid a bigger bet from your opponent and you will maybe be paid off by worse hands. This is called a block bet. If he raises, you are definitely behind and thus, you should fold.

Example #8: how do you play on the river three of a kindHero (SB) $25 BU $25Preflop:Flop: ($2.25)Hero checks, BU bets $1.4, Hero raises $5, BU calls $3.6.7 folds, BU raises $1, Hero calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Turn: ($12.25)Hero bets $8, BU calls $8.If your draw comes on the river in a large pot and you are already committed to the pot, then you should bet instead of letting your opponent take the initiative!

River: ($28.25)Hero bets $11

15Lets take another look at the three of a kind example from the turn after the button called your bet on the turn, the river does not provide a good card.

Nevertheless, now you should decide whether or not you should put the rest of your money in the pot. You still have $ 11 on the table and the pot is already $ 28. If you check, your opponent will most likely not bet with a worse hand. And even if he bets, you cant get out of the pot. But he can also call your bet with a worse hand.

In poker jargon, this situation is called a negative free roll. If a card comes on the river that could give your opponent a better hand than yours, but your hand is so strong and the pot is so big that you would definitely call an all-in from your opponent, you should bet yourself.

If you just check, your opponent can also check with all of his worse hands that could have paid you off and they can also see the showdown for free. With better hands, however, he will bet and you will pay him off.

Thus, the following rule applies:Whenever a draw hits on the river in a large pot and you cant lay down your cards, then you should bet.

Example #9: how do you play on the river top pairHero (BU) $25 CO $25Preflop:Flop: ($2.35)CO bets $1.5, Hero raises $5, CO calls $3.5.6 folds, CO raises $1, Hero calls $1, 2 folds.Turn: ($12.35)CO checks, Hero checks.

River: ($12.35)CO bets $8, Hero folds.

16Here we will continue the previous over pair example and after we have set the opponent on a made hand on the turn, the situation on the river has not been made any easier. Actually, it has just become even more difficult.

On the one hand, the two of hearts is not a good card for your opponent to bluff. In such situations, he normally has a strong made hand, like a pair, that has now become a full house. Thus, now you have the question about how good your own full house is

Without more information about your opponent, it is not a mistake to fold here. He often has the better hand here.

On the other hand, you should ask yourself how your opponent would have played with a pair of queens, kings or aces. It is very probable that he would have bet on the turn with this. If you take these hands from the range available to your of your opponent, a call is ideal in your position

If he checked to you on the river, you could even make another bet of about half of the pot size.

SummaryTexas holdem lives from aggressiveness Only calling a preflop bet is rarely a good idea.You win if you consistently play good cards aggressively.

ExceptionsThere are hands you can call a pre-flop raise with, but these hands have the ability to become a strong made hand on the flop.

Average handsDo not hold on to a weak over pair.Learn to fold average hands as soon as the situation gets a little precarious. 17However you look at it, it is rarely a good idea to just call a pre-flop raise in Texas holdem. The game lives off of aggressiveness and you can only win if you consistently play good cards aggressively.

However, there are exceptions in which it is profitableto just call a raise. But then you are depending on hitting a really strong hand. If you call a pre flop raise with a pair, then you are almost exclusively hoping to hit a set.

Do not make the mistake of falling in love with your hand if it turns into a weak over pair after the flop. This is not the type of situation that you are looking for and that will bring you great profit. You will have to deal with a lot of trouble and headaches if you do not quickly learn to fold average hands. And that is not a threat, but rather a promise.

The last video of this introduction into big stack strategy deals with the situation in which nobody raised before the flop

The Pokerstrategy.com team wishes you success at the tables.