Key points
- Choose your goal first: get called, make the opponent fold or deny a free next card.
- Think of bet size as a percentage of the pot, not just a number of chips.
- The current size also changes the pot and remaining stacks on the turn and river.
01Decide your goal first
Before betting, decide how you want your opponent to respond. There are three main goals.
| Goal | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Get called by weaker hands | Choose a size that weaker hands can call |
| Make stronger hands fold | Choose a size that stronger hands may fold to |
| Do not give away the next card for free | Make your opponent pay chips to see the next card |
The third goal does not mean you can stop your opponent from completing a draw. The idea is to charge them if they call, or take the pot now if they fold.
02Think in percentages of the pot
Judge the size by its percentage of the current pot, not just by the number of chips. A bet of 50 into a pot of 100 carries a different weight from 50 into a pot of 1,000.
Changing the size also changes the equity your opponent needs to call. The larger the bet, the more equity they need. The table below assumes a heads-up pot.
| Bet into a pot of 100 | Pot after the call | Equity needed to call |
|---|---|---|
| 40% of the pot40 | 180 | 22.2% |
| 70% of the pot70 | 240 | 29.2% |
| 105% of the pot105 | 310 | 33.9% |
Required equity is calculated as the call amount ÷ the total pot after calling. See Pot Odds and Expected Value for details.
03Clues for adjusting your size
You do not need to use the same percentage every time. The size that fits your goal changes with the following factors.
Board
On a board where straights and flushes are easy to make, your opponent’s range may contain many draws that can call. If you have a strong made hand and want to get called, this can be a spot to choose a larger size.
On a board where hand strength is unlikely to change, your opponent may have few hands that can continue. In that case, even a small bet may be enough to fold out weak hands.
Your opponent’s likely range
Do not focus on one exact hand that your opponent might hold. Look at the range of hands still possible after the action so far.
If many weak one-pair hands remain, choose a size those hands can call. If many strong draws remain, a small bet lets them see the next card cheaply. See Reading Ranges for more on assessing a range.
Your opponent’s tendencies
If an opponent often folds even to small bets, a bluff does not need to be large. Against an opponent who calls wide, a strong hand may get called for a larger amount.
However, basing your read on only a few actions can make your sizing inconsistent. Start by looking at the board and the betting action so far.
Streets remaining
There is no next card after the river. The goal of charging to see another card disappears, leaving two goals: getting called or making your opponent fold.
04Your current size changes the next street
On the flop, the turn and river are still to come. When a bet is called, the pot grows and both players’ remaining stacks shrink.
| Point in the hand | Pot and remaining stacks |
|---|---|
| Before the bet | Pot 100 · Both players have 400 left. The remaining stack is 4 times the pot |
| A bet of 70 is called | Pot 240 · Both players have 330 left. The remaining stack is about 1.4 times the pot |
The smaller the remaining stacks are relative to the pot, the easier it becomes to put in a large part of them on the turn or river. A large flop bet makes it easier for the hand to progress toward an all-in on a later street.
When choosing your current size, consider whether you want to build a large pot with a strong hand or move to the next street while keeping weaker hands in the pot.
05A raise is stated as a total amount
With a raise, there is the total amount and the amount you add now. The total is how much you will have put in during the current betting round—for example, on the flop. Confusing the two can make your raise larger than intended.
| Wording | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Raise to 70 | Make your total contribution in this betting round 70 |
| You have already put in 20 | You add 70 − 20 = 50 now |
When your opponent calls the raise, they also put in only the difference needed to match the total. See Betting Amount Rules for the minimum raise size.
06Common mistakes
- Betting large simply because your hand is strong. If the size is too large, the weaker hands you want calls from will fold.
- Betting large simply because you are bluffing. If a smaller size folds out the hands you are targeting, a larger bet puts extra chips at risk.
- Always betting large on a board with draws. The size should depend on how many draws remain in your opponent’s range.
- Always betting large with strong hands and small with weak hands. This makes your hand easier to read from your sizing.
07Check Your Understanding with 3 Questions
Question 1Both players have 400 left, and the pot is 100. You bet 50 and get called. What are the pot and remaining stacks on the next street?
View answer
The pot is 100 + 50 + 50 = 200. Both players put in 50, so each has 350 left.
Question 2When betting a strong hand, what should you consider first?
View answer
With a strong hand, the goal is to get called by weaker hands. Consider a size those hands can continue against.
Question 3You have already put in 30 on the flop and raise to a total of 90. How much do you add now?
View answer
Subtract the 30 already committed on the flop from the new total of 90. You add 60.
08Try It in BlackPoker
BlackPoker compares checking with bets of 40%, 70%, and 105% of the pot postflop. Calls and raises are also considered, and actions with higher expected value are chosen more often.
In Training, you can Think first and then view Advice. However, the ○, △, and × ratings do not distinguish between different bet sizes. The detailed criteria may change as the game is adjusted.
Frequently asked questions
How do you choose a bet size?
First decide how you want the opponent to respond. Then choose a percentage of the pot while considering the remaining stacks.
Is a bigger bet always more favorable?
The opponent is more likely to fold, but weaker hands you want calls from may fold too. You also risk more when called.
Does “raise to 70” mean adding 70?
It means making your total contribution on that street 70. If you have already put in 20, you add 50.
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Compare three bet sizes in BlackPokerBlackPoker is a single-player Texas Hold'em game played without real-money wagering. Postflop Advice compares bets of 40%, 70% and 105% of the pot. You can decide first, then compare.
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