After the flop – you raised before the flop

Strategy: No-Limit

How strong is your hand?

► Worthless hands▫ Hands where you missed the flop and in the best case, you have over

cards.

► Weak draws▫ Hands with little showdown value and only very little potential for an

improvement on the turn and river.

► Strong draws▫ A hand that hasn’t been made yet, but has a lot of potential to

become very strong.

How strong is your hand?

► Average made hands▫ Strong pairs that can win a showdown, but can still be caught on the

turn and river.

► Strong made hands▫ Monster hands like two pair, three of a kind or better. It is highly

probable that you have the best hand on the table.

How do you play on the flop?

► The continuation bet▫ A bet that continues your previously shown aggression..

► Motives for a continuation bet▫ To take the bet directly.▫ To protect a made hand against draws. (protection)▫ To extract money from worse hands. (maximization of value)

► The continuation bet as a bluff▫ If the opponent rarely folds on the flop, a bluff is ineffective.▫ If a lot of draws are possible on the flop, a bluff is just as useless.

How do you play on the flop?

► Basic rules for continuation bets▫ If you have a good made hand, you should always make a continuation

bet.▫ If you have a strong draw and only one opponent, you should always

make a continuation bet.

► The continuation bet as a bluff▫ Can your opponents think you hit something?▫ Could your opponents have hit the board?

▫ If you have a weak hand and a maximum of two opponents, whether or not you bluff depends on the flop.

How do you play on the flop?

► Good flops for a continuation bluff

► A good flop…▫ …only helps a few hands.▫ …doesn't offer many draws.▫ …lets you represent a strong hand.

► Bad flops for a continuation bluff

Which opponents are suitable for continuation bets?

► Loose passive▫ Since it is hard for loose-passive opponents to fold their cards, they

are not suitable for bluffs.▫ These opponents call a lot of bets, but rarely raise.

► Loose aggressive▫ These players also don’t fold their cards, but they are aggressive as

well. ▫ Don’t make bluffs and let them pay you off when you have a strong

hand.

► Tight passive▫ The ideal opponent for bluffs!▫ Tight passive opponents do not play a lot of hands and only show

aggression if they have a really strong hand.

► Tight aggressive▫ TAGs prefer to play strong cards and can be bluffed.▫ You can attack a lot of flops against multi-table TAGS.

How much should you bet?

▫ A bet between half and the full size of the bet is recommended. 2/3 of the pot is usually a decent size.

▫ With multiple opponents and/or a possible flush draw, you should bet the pot for maximum protection.

▫ Against one opponent and a drawless board, half of the pot is enough.

The more draws on the board and the more opponents involved, the higher your bet should be.

What should you do when someone bets ahead of you?

► You have one opponent and his bet is small in relation to the pot▫ If your opponent has less than 2.5 times the pot, a bluff isn’t worth it. ▫ You can also raise with weaker hands if your opponent has a medium

to full stack.▫ But be careful, it could also be a trap!

► You are facing one opponent and his bet is relatively large▫ You only play made hands and strong draws and raise with them.

► You are facing several opponents▫ Never bluff against several opponents!▫ You should continue to raise with strong made hands and strong

draws.▫ Weak draws and average made hands can be used to make a call

every once and awhile.▫ You should fold everything else.

What should you do if somebody raises?

► Worthless hands, small to middle pairs and weak draws▫ You should immediately fold these hands.

► Strong combination draws▫ You should continue to play aggressively if you have a flush draw +

OESD or a flush draw + a pair.▫ If you have 12 outs or more, you should go all-in in response to the

raise!

► Individual flush draw, OESD or double gutshot▫ A call can be reasonable depending on the pot odds and the implied

pot odds.

► Made hands (top pair + good kicker or better)▫ You should continue to raise if the flop is draw heavy.▫ If the board is not draw heavy, you can simply call as well.

What should you do if somebody raises? – example # 1

Hero (UTG1)$25 MP2 $25BU $25

Preflop:

Hero raises $1, 3 folds, MP2 calls$1, 2 folds, BU calls $1, 2 folds.

Flop: ($ 3.35)

Herobets$2.5, 1 fold, BU raise $7.5...

What should you do if somebody raises? – example #2

Hero (CO) $25 BU $25BB $25

Preflop:

6folds, Hero raises $1, BU calls $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($ 3.10)

BB checks, Herobets$2.5, BU raise $8, 1 fold, …

What should you do if somebody raises? – example #3

Hero (CO) $25 BU $25BB $25

Preflop:

6folds, Hero raises $1, BU calls $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($ 3.10)

BB checks, Herobets$2.75, BU raise $8, BB folds, Hero folds.

How do you play on the turn?

► The basic rules of your play on the turn▫ Continue to play strong made hands aggressively.▫ If you bluffed on the flop, give up on the turn.▫ You can play a strong draw aggressively against one opponent.

Against several opponents, however, you should play passively.▫ Bet with strong pairs. You can also check/call on a drawless board.▫ If a possible draw comes in, it is best to play bet/fold with good made

hands.▫ If an opponent ahead of you raises, then you should only raise with

really strong hands. No bluffs!

Continue to play strong made hands aggressively example #1

Hero (MP2) $25 BU $25BB $25

Preflop:

4folds, Hero raises $1, 2 folds, BU calls $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75.

Flop:($ 3.10)

BB checks, Hero bets $2.5, BU calls $2.5, BB calls $2.5.

Turn: ($ 10.60)

BB checks, Hero bets $8.5.

Continue to play strong made hands aggressively example #2

Hero (MP2) $25 BU $25BB $25

Preflop:

4folds, Hero raises $1, 2 folds, BU calls $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75.

Flop:($ 3.10)

BB checks, Hero bets $2.5, BU calls $2.5, BB calls $2.5.

Turn: ($ 10.60)

BB checks, Hero bets $8.5.

Don’t bluff again on the turn

Hero (CO) $25 BU $25

Preflop:

6folds, Hero raises $1, BU calls $1, 2folds.

Flop: ($ 2.35)

Hero bets $1.4, BU calls $1.4.

Turn: ($ 10.60)

Hero checks...

Strong draws, top pairs and over pairs

► Play strong draws passively▫ You cannot play a strong draw profitably against several opponents. ▫ Let your opponent bet and calculate your pot odds.▫ A bet is only worth it against one opponent if there is a high

probability that he will fold.

► Top pairs and over pairs▫ You bet and fold to raise.

• Top pair (with a good kicker) and over pairs can be played against maniacs, provided no strong draws come.

▫ You check.• If you are in position, you check behind.• If you are out of position, you should play check/call and you will

make a new decision about your hand on the river.

How do you play on the river?

► How strong is your hand? ▫ Continue to play aggressively with a strong made hand.

► Top pairs and over pairs▫ If you bet on the flop and on the turn -> check/call river. ▫ If a draw completes and you are out of position, you should play

bet/fold.

► Two pair and better▫ Bet in order to allow for your opponents to call with worse hands.

Don’t bluff on the river!!! River bluffs don’t work enough to be profitable compared to the high bet.

Summary

► Flop▫ Always make a continuation bet with strong made hands and strong

draws.▫ You should play weak and normal draws strictly according to pot odds

and implied pot odds.▫ Never bluff against more than 2 opponents.

► Turn▫ Give up your bluffs on the turn.▫ Play draws passively according to pot odds, except in the situation

with a strong draw and only one opponent.▫ You should bet out of position with pairs, check on a drawless board

when in position.

► River▫ If you checked on the turn with a pair, you can call a bet on the river.▫ If you bet on the flop and turn with a pair, you should play passively on

the river.▫ If you probably have the best hand, you should continue to play

aggressively.