How much to bet in No-Limit?

Hi All.


I have a question about betting in No-Limit Hold'em. How does a player decide how much he want to bet?? Does he calculate the pot odds, so that he bets enough to make his opponents make errors, or how does betting goes in No-limit?


Thanks,

Daniel

This is of course one of the most difficult aspects of no limit hold'em.


You have to take into account lots of things, but one of the least important factors is the pot size. It matters, but not as much as things like stack size, what you know about your opponent, the action leading up to that point, and your position.


It also depends on what you want to accomplish. Are you trying to steal? Are you trying to bluff out a made hand? Are you trying to sell the nuts?


For instance, if you are in early position and want to bluff at the pot on the flop, how much should you bet?


If your opponent is the kind of player who will call you with just about anything in case you show weakness on the turn, you should bet enough that it looks like you're committed, probably 25 to 30% of your stack. Of course, if your stack is huge in relation to the pot, then this is a foolish bet. So lots of factors go into it.


One of the things I notice limit players have a hard time adjusting to is the fact that the size of the pot is less important than the size of the stacks. If the stacks are large, you are perfectly justified in calling a bet that is two or three times the size of the pot when you are drawing to the nuts. This is especially true if you put your opponent on a big hand or if he's the type who can't let go of an overpair. Limit players tend to think an overpair is the mortal nuts and this attitude can cost you a fortune in no limit.


Bottom line, there is no easy answer to this question.


natedogg