Bet Sizing Theory

[urbansprawler]

In general, how do you guys plan your sizing postflop? Let's disregard board texture for this discussion. In general, how do your %pot bets differ from flop to river? I usually bet smaller on the flop and bigger on the subsequent streets because my betting range gets stronger with every street. But often I can't shove the river without making a very significant bet on the turn. Is the saved money on the flop worth making big bets on the turn and river?

Would like to hear an argument for betting large on the flop and smaller on turn and river. Some maths would be nice. Hopefully we can get a nice theory discussion going

[given1982]

I play exactly the opposite--betting bigger on the flop and slightly smaller on later streets. I think that people are much more likely to put money in bad by calling on the flop, chasing draws with the wrong odds or calling 1 street with a pocket pair to see what you'll do on the turn.

[urbansprawler]

Ya, but since IP you're usually seeing the flop without a pair in your hand or any other showdown-worthy cards, a cheap steal can be in your best interest.

[TheDeKay]

I like to build the pot early (especially ip) so the leverage of my bets get bigger. If the pot is bigger the decisions become more important and since I think, that I make better plays than my opponents, it's a good choice to build bigger pots.
I played "small ball poker" for quite a long time, but changed it now because of these kind of thoughts.

Edit: And yes, I have to balance that with checking behind trash-hands vs strong opponents.

[urbansprawler]

Has betting bigger early on been better for you than betting small?

[AdrienD]

I plan betsizing pretty much the same as you except that I often catch myself betting bigger on the flop with strong hands in order to get it in on later streets without overbetting too much.
I also tend to bet way bigger on the turn when im going for value than when I'm (semi-)bluffing but thats mainly due to the level of competition (ie. non-betsize-reading nuubs)

[Qgel]

I don't see how we can discuss betsizing in a vacuum since it should depend on board texture, opponent tendencies, hand strength, etc?

But in general, if possible, I don't change my betsizing at all unless that interferes with my plan for the hand. For example, if I could get it in by the river by betting 3/4 pot on every street then I would choose that betsizing almost every time.

[urbansprawler]

Originally Posted by Qgel

I don't see how we can discuss betsizing in a vacuum since it should depend on board texture, opponent tendencies, hand strength, etc?

Definitely not when playing with competent players.

[Qgel]

Originally Posted by urbansprawler

Definitely not when playing with competent players.

Did I say otherwise?

I meant if we have the nuts against a huge station deepstacked we can pot or overbet every street.

[TheDeKay]

Originally Posted by urbansprawler

Has betting bigger early on been better for you than betting small?

At least I think so ^^
One example: Many taggish regs love to float boards like K63rainbow and call any Cbet with a small pp - but they give up, if you bet again on the turn. Here it's obviously better to bet more on the flop and less on the turn than vice versa.
By betting larger early we threaten a larger part of villains stack (so we build up more pressure) - and many taggish regs don't want to get it too much money with medium strength hands.
Of course you should adjust your bet sizing to your opponents-tendencies, but in general I tend to bet around 3/4 pot on the flop.