Sizing bets correctly is indispensable in online poker games. It’s the key to effectively extracting maximum returns, managing risk, and bluffing. With some cunning, you can use bet sizing to outwit your opponents and win substantial rewards.
This article will introduce several hacks to help you exploit savvy bet sizing. You can use them to increase your odds of winning online poker tournaments organized by the biggest online poker sites today.
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Your Table Image
Pros refer to how a player is perceived at a poker table as their “table image.” Invest in your table image before making every bet while playing poker, especially in a live setting. It will depend on everything, from how you dress and carry yourself to your playing style and preferences. Your opponents can also draw your table image from your starting hands, bluffing frequency, and positional awareness.
Depending on all the factors mentioned, your table image can fall into different categories, from tight-aggressive and tight-passive to loose-passive and loose-aggressive. Either way, use your table image to size your bets wisely.
For instance, if you have a tight image and your opponents expect you to make small bets in ordinary circumstances, you can exploit their perception by betting big when you have a weak hand, fooling everyone into believing you have a strong one.
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Your Hand
Generally, as a poker player, you can have a strong or weak hand. A strong hand has better odds of winning, and vice versa. But here’s the thing. You don’t need the best hand to outplay your competitors and walk away with a payout. You can do it even with a weak hand, provided you size your bets cunningly. What does that mean?
Suppose you have a weak hand that’s highly unlikely to improve. In that case, circumstances require you to mitigate your losses by making a small wager, right? But you don’t have to do that. Conversely, you can bet big and try to deceive your opponents. Some might believe you have good cards and fall for your bluff.
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Opponent Reactions
While playing poker against fellow gamblers, watch how they react. You will discover that they all respond differently to different moves. For instance, some might interpret small bets as a sign of weakness and call or raise as often as possible. Others may fold every time the pot becomes enormous. Consider such reactions and use them to size your bets.
Here’s an example of exploiting different opponent reactions and gaining the upper hand. Suppose most of your opponents leave the table every time the stakes are high. In that case, you can go big when you have a strong or weak hand and increase your odds of bagging the pot.
The Bottomline
If you are a fan of online poker tournaments, you know they can be incredibly competitive. The good news is that you can use savvy bet sizing to capitalize on every hand you receive. But this tactic requires you to heed all the factors outlined here, from your table image to opponent reactions. Make correct bet sizing a priority, especially if you plan to profit immensely from online tournaments or turn your poker endeavors into a job. Good luck!
