No Limit Tips: Under Betting

Texas Holdem, No Limit Poker, Online Poker, Tournaments, Tournaments
April 20 2009

Under betting a hand is not a recommended habit for a new player. If you have the lead in a hand and you bet too small of an amount your opponents will be able to remain in the hand and draw another card without risking too many of their chips. You give them good drawing odds because the risk of calling your bet is less than the risk that their outs will come.

Some skilled players like Phil Hellmuth play a small bet style in tournament play. They do this to limit the betting early in the hand, while building the pot along the way. If their opponents hit their draw cards and make a bet or raise, they can get off the hand without losing too many chips. This play is usually employed against more than one player, with bigger bets being made in a head-to-head situation.

Under betting is a good play when you're on a semi-bluff and need to hit an out to improve. The under bet is likely to only be called by an opponent that may be ahead of you, and you'll be getting proper draw odds on your hand as long as no one raises you. Other than those situations, you should be betting your hands for value and not under betting.

• More poker tips for: Texas Holdem, No Limit Poker, Online Poker, Tournaments, Tournaments
• Complete poker tips archive

Play No Limit Texas Holdem in Bodog's online poker room!