Phil Gordon
October 3, 2005 When I'm thinking about my actions after the flop or turn, I
use a poker strategy of looking to
the "texture" of the board - i.e., what cards are in
play, and how might they interact with my opponent's
likely starting hands - to help determine if and how
much I will bet.
My normal post-flop betting range is one third of the
pot to the full size of the pot. The texture of the
board dictates where in that range I choose to bet, and
I determine that based on the following four factors:
1. How strong is my hand with respect to all of the
likely hands for my opponent?
If I have a very strong hand with respect to all of
the likely starting hands for my opponent, I'll usually
go for the lower end of the spectrum, betting around 1/3
of the pot. I want my opponent to call.
If I have a moderate strength hand with respect to
all of the likely starting hands for my opponent, I'll
likely bet 2/3 of the pot. I want my opponents to fold
some hands that are better than my hand and call with
some hands that are worse than my hand.
If I have a weak hand with respect to all of the
likely starting hands for my opponent and I want to bet,
I'll bet the pot. I want my opponents to fold hands that
are better than my hand.
2. How likely is my hand to improve?
If my hand is unlikely to improve, I tend to bet more
than 2/3 of the pot. I want to take this pot now.
If my hand is somewhat likely to improve, say about
15% to 20% of the time, I am more apt to bet 2/3 of the
pot.
If my hand is very likely to improve (about 34% of
the time or more), I am more apt to bet 1/2 of the pot.
3. How likely is my opponent to have "hit the flop"
and have a pair or better?
If my opponent is unlikely to have hit the flop and
have top pair or better, I tend to bet 1/3 of the pot
whether I think I have the best hand or not.
If my opponent is likely to have flopped exactly one
pair, and I think I have the best hand, I tend to bet
2/3 of the pot.
If my opponent is likely to have flopped two pair or
better and I think I have the best hand, I tend to bet
the size of the pot. If I don't think I have the best
hand, I'll almost never bet.
4. How likely is my opponent to have a primary draw?
(That is, a draw to the best possible hand on the board,
like a straight or a flush.)
If I think my opponent is likely to have a primary
draw and I think I have the best hand, I'm likely to bet
the size of the pot.
If I think my opponent has a primary draw and there
is a good chance I don't have the best hand, I'll almost
never bet.
When the four factors above lead to different
conclusions about how much to bet, I average the
recommendations and bet that amount.
Over time, you'll develop a more immediate sense of
the "texture" of the board, and the amount to bet based
on that will become almost automatic. Then, you can
spend less time calculating your actions and more time
observing your opponents.
This lesson is from Phil Gordon's Little Green
Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em
, published by Simon Spotlight Entertainment.
Phil Gordon
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