Copyright 2005 Full
Tilt Poker
October 3, 2005
(View all Online Poker
Lessons)
Poker Lesson: Texture
Isn't Just For Fabric
Author: Phil Gordon
When I'm thinking about my actions after the flop
or turn, I look 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.
Full
Tilt Poker Bonus Code
Downloaded
from the World Wide Web on October 8, 2005:
http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/proLessons.php?lesson=29
|