How do you determine your bed size! A simple explanation of the concept
Table of Contents
What is Bet Size?
Bet size is one of the key elements that largely determines a player’s win rate in poker.
Let’s unravel the basic idea behind bet size, why we need to think about it, and the thought process behind it.
Basic Thinking Behind Bet Size
Firstly, as the act of betting chips is based on the odds against the pot, when considering bet size, it’s common to think about what percentage of the pot you are betting.
For example, betting $20 in a $30 pot is quite different from betting $20 in a $100 pot.
In the former case, it is a bet of 2/3 of the pot, while in the latter, it’s 1/5 of the pot.
The Importance of Considering the Appropriate Bet Size
Why is it necessary to think about bet size in detail? There are several reasons, but let’s discuss two particularly important ones.
Changes in Required Win Rate Due to Bet Size
For instance, if you bet $50 in a $100 pot, what should be the necessary win rate for your opponent to call?
This can be calculated as (the amount needed to call) ÷ (total pot amount if the opponent calls).
In the example above, if the opponent calls, the pot will be $200, and the amount needed to call is $50, so 50 ÷ 200 = 0.25, meaning the opponent needs a 25% win rate to call your bet.
Similarly, for a $100 bet in a $100 pot, the opponent needs a 33.3% win rate to call.
| Your Bet Amount | Necessary Win Rate for Opponent to Call |
|---|---|
| 2 times the pot | 40% |
| Pot size bet | 33.3% |
| 2/3 of the pot | 29% |
| Half of the pot | 25% |
| 1/3 of the pot | 20% |
| 1/4 of the pot | 16.6% |
| 1/5 of the pot | 14.2% |
| Thus, by changing the bet size, you can change the win rate required for your opponent. |
Thought Process When Considering Bet Size
Equity of the Entire Hand Range
If your hand range is overall superior to your opponent’s range, it is common to use a smaller bet size (about 1/3 to 2/5 of the pot).
Flop
Pre-flop, you opened with a 600 raise from CO with A♣K❤ and got a call from BB.
On a K♣J♠4♦ flop, a K-high board is generally favorable for the original raiser, so you’d typically bet 1/3 of the pot.
Conversely, if the opponent’s range includes fairly strong hands, and your overall range advantage is lost, betting frequency decreases, and checking increases.
Strength of Equity in the Value Range
If your current hand is strong but there’s a high chance of being outdrawn post-flop, bet sizes tend to be larger.
Flop
Pre-flop, you opened with a 600 raise from CO with A♣K❤ and got a call from BB.
On a K♠J♠4♦ flop, a K-high board typically favors a small bet, but due to the two spades and open-ended straight draws like QT, a larger bet of 2/3 of the pot is appropriate.
Conversely, if your current hand is strong and there’s a lower chance of being outdrawn, bet sizes tend to be smaller.
Combos of Bluff and Value
The number of bluff and value hand combos in your range is crucial when betting.
If your range is bluff-heavy, your opponent is likely to think they are winning more often. On the other hand, if your range is value-heavy, they are likely to think they are losing more often.
Therefore, when your range is bluff-heavy and you bet, your opponent estimates their win rate higher, making it profitable to bet larger. Conversely, when your range is value-heavy, your opponent estimates their win rate lower, making it profitable to bet smaller.
Position and SPR
SPR and position are also important factors in considering bet size.
Generally, the larger the SPR, the larger the bet size needs to be to maximize expected chip gains, especially with strong hands.
Conversely, with a smaller SPR, bet sizes tend to be smaller.
Also, with a small SPR, you always have to be mindful of commitment to the pot.
Moreover, when in position, as draw hands are often involved, and it’s advantageous to see the turn and river cards, bet sizes tend to be smaller to keep the SPR low. In contrast, out of position, bet sizes tend to be larger.
Turn
Pre-flop, you opened with a 600 raise from CO with A♣K♦ and got a call from BB.
On an A♠9❤3♠ flop, you bet 600 with a top hit top kicker and faced a check-raise to 2000 from the opponent, to which you called.
On the 8❤ turn, against the opponent’s check, you went all-in with 1.4 times the pot size, targeting their flush and straight draws.
Specific Examples
CO vs BB in a 2-Bet Pot
Flop
You 3-bet from the SB with J♦T♦ in response to a 2.5BB open from the BTN. The hand goes heads-up, and on the flop, you get a gutshot straight draw and a backdoor flush draw.
Since the BTN player called your pre-flop 3-bet, hands like AA, QQ, and AK are likely only in your SB range, putting you at an overall advantage.
Therefore, in this situation, a small bet of around 1/3 of the pot is sufficient to apply significant pressure to your opponent.
>SB vs BTN in a 3-Bet Pot
Flop
You 3-bet with J♦ T♦ from the SB in response to a 2.5BB open from the BTN. The BTN called, and the flop brought a gutshot straight draw and a backdoor flush draw.
Since the BTN player has called your pre-flop 3-bet, it’s likely that AA, QQ, or AK are mainly in your range, SB, giving you a range advantage overall.
Therefore, in this situation, making a small bet of about one-third of the pot can put enough pressure on your opponent.
Summary
This chapter explained the thought process behind deciding bet sizes.
There are several factors to consider when determining bet sizes, and it’s necessary to balance these considerations effectively.
Depending on your bet size, you can take a significant number of chips from your opponent.
While sometimes you may think about bet sizes on a hand-by-hand basis, it’s also important to make a wide range of choices while considering range, board texture, and SPR.
Gradually get used to it.