Your total bet would be $6 for your base bet + $8 for four limpers = $14 total.

Important: We don’t count the forced bets in the small blind and big blind position (white frame with star) If four people called the big blind (red frame and number), you could add another: 4 x $2 = $8. Your default bet size should be three times the big blind: 3 x $2 = $6. (We don’t count forced bets in the small blind and big blind position.) This amount is often sufficient to narrow down the number of players.Įxample 1: A cash game of Texas No-Limit Holdem with nine players and a blind structure of $1/$2. You should avoid betting or raising the same amount of chips, regardless of the number of opponents who already entered the pot.Ī good rule of thumb is to raise three times the big blind, plus one big blind for every limper in the pot. If you can play a mediocre hand in the same way as you would play a very strong hand, you can often trick your opponents into folding, even if they might have a better hands than you. You may want to announce to the table that you hold a strong hand. Betting too little can keep too many players in the pot. Betting too much can have the effect of everyone fold, instead of putting more chips into the pot. In this scenario, correct bet-sizing is critical for making the highest possible profit. If you believe you hold the strongest hand at the table, you want to get more money into the pot.

The most common reason to bet or raise is when you have a good starting hand. It is much easier to play poker against fewer opponents.Ģ. To avoid this danger you want to narrow down the number of players in a raised pot to two to less. When more and more cards are revealed, even a mediocre hand such as pocket Two’s can beat a strong hand of pocket Aces if a third Two is revealed on the river. Facing too many opponents in a raised pot can be dangerous. Reduce the number of opponents, increase the pot size or manipulate other players to fold to you.ġ.

You typically want to achieve one of three results when you place a bet. You should think about the desired outcome of each of your actions first. If you want to shift from being a beginner at No-Limit Texas Holdem to a skilled poker player, you have to learn how to size your bets properly. Not knowing how much money you should bet and raise is a very common mistake among beginners.

Texas holdem pot odds conversion chart