When playing at online poker sites you have the ability to change the size of your bet to what ever you would like. You can bet more with big hands and bet small with small hands or vice versa. You can also bet the same no matter the strength of your hand. While changing your betting pattern based on hand strength you are playing exploitable. Keeping a constant bet size is playing unexploitable.

Exploitable Poker

It is very profitable to play exploitable when your opponent doesn’t notice. This means that your opponent isn’t worried about pot odds, or anything other than their hand more than likely. Players will tend to make up their minds on whether they are calling with draws or not regardless of pot odds. This is very profitable because you can then take advantage of that by betting larger when you think they are on a draw to maximize your value against the draw missing. Being able to play exploitable is also very nice when making a continuation bet. If your opponent is the type to go all the way or fold right away then you can save money by betting less when making a continuation bet. If they are going to fold regardless the size of the pot, then you should make it cost yourself less for the times that they do decide to call you. A good way to target players you can play exploitable against watch how they play draws. If they call down with a draw regardless of pot odds being wrong to call then they are probably not paying too much attention to the size of your bet. Another good way to target these players is to simply put them to the test. Try playing exploitable against them and if it seems they are picking up on it then change back.

Unexploitable Poker

As you move up in limits it becomes even more important to play unexploitable. The higher the limits means more good players especially in large buy-in events like the 2009 WSOP. These players are going to be trying their best to make associations with your hand strength and bet sizing so betting big with big hands and weak with weak hands doesn’t work anymore. This is resolved by playing unexploitable. The percent of pot that you bet should always be very close to the same. You don’t have to bet exactly 2/3 pot every time but try to keep it close to your average bet size. When playing unexploitable you are neglecting your opponents any more information about your hand than you have to. While you do lose the ability to risk less in certain situations you save money against certain players by playing unexploitable and avoiding knowledge of your hand strength to become leaked By mixing each way of playing you should see an increase in your hourly rate in no time. Saving money means winning money. Taking advantage of each opponent and situation by how you are betting  proves to be a very reliable tool at the tables.