The Fundamentals of Bet Sizing
Every bet should have a purpose. Either you're betting for value (wanting a call from worse hands) or as a bluff (wanting better hands to fold). Your sizing should reflect that purpose.
Common Bet Sizes
| Size | % of Pot | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 25-33% | Dry boards, thin value, cheap bluffs |
| Medium | 50-66% | Standard c-bets, balanced ranges |
| Large | 75-100% | Wet boards, strong value, polarized |
| Overbet | 100%+ | Nutted hands, strong bluffs, polarized |
Board Texture Matters
Dry boards (like K-7-2 rainbow) favor smaller bets because ranges don't connect well. Wet boards (like J-T-9 with flush draw) favor larger bets to charge draws and protect value hands.
Your bet sizing should be the same with your value hands and bluffs at the same frequency. This makes you harder to exploit.
Value Betting
When value betting, think about the maximum size your opponent will call with worse hands. Sometimes small bets get called by more hands, extracting more value overall.
Bluffing
Bluffs need to be large enough to make your opponent fold, but not so large that you're risking too much. A good bluff gives your opponent bad pot odds to call with their draws.
Common Mistakes
- Always betting the same size: Predictable and exploitable
- Betting too small with strong hands: Leaves money on the table
- Overbetting with medium hands: Only gets called by better