11- 1-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Calling To Chop A Pot

Question: I notice that you have mentioned a few times that betting (or calling) to chop a pot is usually a big no-no, however clearly there must be times when it is not a bad idea, such as when something ridiculous like AAA QQ is on the board and there is quite a bit of money in the pot. could you perhaps give some guidelines on when you might consider it a reasonable bet

Damian

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Answer: That's a good question. I don't remember where I wrote that but I most likely didn't go into too much detail. My comment was referring to no limit holdem, not limit holdem. In limit holdem, if you have a chance to split the pot, you would almost always call because the pot is so large relative to the amount you have to call. In no limit holdem, often times a bet is pretty large compared to the pot so if you screw up it can be a big mistake.

Let me qualify what I wrote so that the message is communicated better: You don't want to call in no limit holdem when at best you'll chop the pot. This speaks to a broader concept in no limit holdem --winning a small pot or losing a big pot.

An example of this can found in preflop play. Going all-in with 55 preflop against another player who already raised is a situation where at best you'll be a small favorite (if he only has two over cards [even 89]), or at worst you'll be a huge underdog (if he has a larger pocket pair). The idea is that you don't want to put yourself in situations where the risk will be great at worst and the reward little at best.

Let me give an example or two for post flop play:

You have TT. The board: AAAJJ

You have TT. The board: 789TJ

If the person went all-in in either situation and it was really costly, you would be wrong to call. You can't beat the board. If this was limit holdem, you'd call but in no limit you have to think more carefully. I catch people do this all the time. The flop counterfeits their hand (puts their cards on the board) and makes a straight. I have the larger end of it and I bet larger than normal. They assume I'm just trying to keep them from calling and winning half the pot with the straight on the board and I take everything.

Two final points are to keep in mind how much was bet and then that there is a difference between betting a hand and calling a hand. If the person doesn't bet much and the pot is large, you should still probably call if you think you have a better chance than the odds give you. Remember too that in poker what you bet and what you call with aren't always the same. Be much more careful to call a hand then to bet one. In the examples above, you might even decide to bet them and that wouldn't be so bad but to call an all-in from someone with a lot of chips would be a clear mistake.

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