If you are a beginner in the poker world, you may think that all bets are the same, but this is not so. There are as many types of bets in poker as there are ways of playing. If you can get to know them and how they work, you will be able to play online poker and increase your chances of winning.
Currently, there are more than 100 million poker players worldwide and the game continues to grow, because it is very easy to play, although there are different variations of the game, you can play for free or make the bets you want, even the highest you can make in any casino. All this, from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or phone.
Online poker betting differs from conventional poker in that it is faster and bets with less risk, since you can bet whatever you want and that is why it is also an accessible betting game. It also has its disadvantages, for example, you play against strangers and you can’t look them in the face, although there are other ways to tell if someone is bluffing.
Learn how to play online poker: possible bets
When the poker cards are dealt there are several actions that relate to betting that are part of the rules, which must be followed by all players.
Poker betting rules
Check
You can only check when there is no bet in play. That is, to avoid having to open bets. In the event that all players check, the round ends and the next hand is continued.
Betting
Once a player makes a bet, the rest of the players can call, raise or fold.
Call
Players who do not want to raise, but still want to continue playing in the next round, are obliged to call.
Go up
Players may raise when the other players have already bet and must call the highest bet placed. After that, they must make a higher one.
Don’t go
This involves folding, i.e. leaving the game.
Types of bets in online poker according to strategies
Depending on the strategy you adopt, you can place different types of bets.
Online poker betting:
Check and raise
The strategy is to check, then raise when the opponent has placed a bet after you. This way you can put more pressure on the players and force them to fold if they do not have a good hand of cards.
Over bet
This is a big bet, which is made to force the opponent to fold. To make it you can have good cards, or no cards at all.
Counterstack
The counter bet consists of tripling the value of the bet when you think the other player has an aggressive strategy and wants to force your moves by taking you blind.
Push and Fold
In this strategy, there are two options. You can go all in and call all in, or you can fold and discard your hand, giving up the pot. You can do this when your stack is small, but it doesn’t prevent you from calling and raising. It also prevents you from losing too much by raising and folding.
Stop and Go
To make this move you have to check before the flop while you are out of raise position. You then make a strong bet, such as an all in.
3-Bet
3-Bet is done with a re-raise of the hand, even if your hand is not the best, to become the best play.
4-Bet
On your turn, you make a bet of 4 times the value of the big blind and without having invested for the blinds. In other words, you have not bet anything yet, but you show that you have very strong cards and you force your opponents to give up.
Poker betting tips
If you have decided to bet in poker, surely you do not want to lose, so you must acquire some skills that good players have. To do this, it is advisable that you read about the subject and follow the advice of experts. If you are a beginner, keep these tips in mind:
Be selective with your hands
One of the mistakes of beginner poker players is to play all the hands. It is advisable to choose the right starting hands, choosing some premium hands to be able to climb up in the last positions and take back many of your scarce positions before the flop.
Learn to bluff
The best poker players know how to bluff, as this is the way to force other players to fold. It doesn’t matter if you’ve made the flop, a bold bet is a good way to disguise your made hands.
Be aggressive
Poker tournament strategy is based on aggressive play. You must be willing to take risks and bluff, betting hard, to win, especially if your opponents are weak and willing to fold.
Protect your blinds
The old strategy of folding on most of your hands, in the small blind or the big blind, has given way to a new strategy of protecting your blinds whenever necessary. If you are in the big blind, for example, you have already paid a mandatory bet and, when the flop comes out, you are the second to act, so you have no information from the table. So why should you defend this position?
Don’t be afraid to fold
Learning to fold is a great skill to learn to avoid losing money. While many consider it boring, you don’t need to play every hand, as there will be plenty of opportunities for you to play. Knowing how to fold is a smart strategy when you have a bad one, and sometimes when you have a good one.
Be aware of your position at the table.
Understanding your position at the poker table is essential to developing your strategy. When you are in first position and you are the first to play, you can face a raise or a re-raise, while if you are last you have a lot of information to be able to make better decisions.
Don’t bet more than your budget
Registering on an online poker betting site is very simple, but first you need to consider what funds you can afford to spend. For a tournament, it is recommended to spend between 5 and 10% of your budget on an entry fee.
You should also consider whether it is convenient to bet less and more. You may think you can win, but you should first gain some experience to make stronger bets.
Invest in improving your poker skills
Consider that improving your poker skills is not an expense, but an investment. Therefore, you could follow a training program, get a mentor or take an online course to learn advanced techniques. Likewise, there are tracking software and heads-up displays (HUDs), which are very useful for evaluating opponents, although they are not allowed on all online poker gambling sites.
The more you play online poker, the better player you can be and the more winnings you can make.