Inducing Mistakes

Biscuit · 10-02-2008, 04:18 PM

Per The Theory of Poker, you want to induce your opponent to make mistakes. In NLHE, if you think you have the best hand on the flop, but your opponent has a flush draw or straight draw that will beat you if it comes, how much do you bet to induce him to make the mistake of calling? It has to be enough for it to be a mistake, but not so much that he folds.

Where's that sweet spot?

beaston · 10-02-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biscuit

Per The Theory of Poker, you want to induce your opponent to make mistakes. In NLHE, if you think you have the best hand on the flop, but your opponent has a flush draw or straight draw that will beat you if it comes, how much do you bet to induce him to make the mistake of calling? It has to be enough for it to be a mistake, but not so much that he folds.

Where's that sweet spot?

Good question......

Let's take for example top pair and another over vs a straight draw. You're a 3:2 favorite in this situation, so I would say bet around 1.25-1.5x the pot...

propiper · 10-06-2008, 09:02 AM

It's all about pot odds here.

If an opponent is on a flush draw after the flop the odds are 4:1 to hit on turn - Now if they plan to go to the river to see if it hits (and online - who doesn't) the odds are ~ 2:1 to hit seeing both turn and river.

So to "induce a mistake" you would have to bet enough on the turn for them not to be getting 4:1 pot odds to make the call.

If the pot is $10 - a bet of $5 would do it. (Yea, $4 would mathematically do it but barely) If you know this player will go to the river with his flush draw, you would have to over-bet the pot to take him out of the odds.

dcputernut · 10-06-2008, 10:26 AM

I would like to know...with the hand you talk about....just how the heck to you win that one...it's always me with an AK and AK on flop, that no matter how much I bet trying to get them to fold...they call and get there Straight!!!

That is why I really hate AK....I can't fold...hoping for that full house, and knowing they probably got there straight.

donktheclown · 10-06-2008, 12:33 PM

Something important also is that each person has different limits.

I've often seen people online call all-ins with flush draws and stuff like that (albeit more frequently in tournaments than cash games). So, as usual, there really is no magic formula to determine the best amount.

I've gone all-in overbetting before trying to act like I was bluffing, and got calls. People really like it when they can call a big all-in bet and then they see "free" cards.