Table Pattern

Identifying Betting Patterns Leads to Profitable Play

When playing poker, either online or in a live poker room, one of the keys to profitable play is careful observation of your opponents.  Online play is often aided by third party software providing heads up display or HUD but even when using HUD it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay careful attention to your opponent’s betting habits and patterns.  In a live poker room there is simply no substitute for careful and concentrated observation of betting patterns at the table.  They are the most important tells at the table.

Common Betting Patterns

Many players transparently bet when they have a solid hand and check or fold when they do not.  Some even vary their betting and bet stronger when they have a monster and weaker when their hand is merely strong.  But they check or fold when they are holding poor hands.  Against these players, those who are reluctant to voluntarily put money in the pot, I generally will go away if they bet into me but if they are checking I will most certainly make a bet of some sort.

There are players who love to chase straights or flushes.  They bet into boards that are highly textured toward either a straight or flush or both.  If I am in front of them and the board is textured I will generally bet between three-quarters of the pot or a pot sized bet to price this draw out.  If I am called, so be it.  If I don’t have the flush cards I might muck if played back at, but I find these players generally reluctant to go beyond the turn if they are not holding the flush or straight.  If I am in position and the chaser bets into me and I have a hand worth playing I smooth call and buy a free card on the turn or river.

Then there are those players who always lead out if they raised pre-flop.  It is statistically unlikely that the flop hit them, leaving them with a mid to strong pair or a drawing hand.  I almost always smooth call the C-bet unless the player tends to be loose or semi-loose and then I might raise with any two cards.  The smooth call sets a trap for later streets if I am holding something solid.  The raise may take the pot right now which isn’t a bad thing either.

Then there are those who act with aggression both pre-flop and on the flop but suddenly turn timid on fourth street.  Poker takes the courage to fire another bullet on the turn if you fired one on the flop.  It takes even more courage to fire the third bullet on the river when you are bluffing or think you might be second-best.  With these players, I know I am beat if they fire a bullet on the turn but if they check the turn I become hyper-aggressive and look to take the pot then and there.

Overbets on the turn and river generally, though not always, indicate a bluff.  The rule of thumb is simply when you are acting weak you are strong and when you act strong you are generally weak. When I am faced with a large overbet from a player who tends to overbet their bluffs I am likely to call their bet.  If that player is also one who folds under pressure I might even raise their overbet.

Finally, there is the passive player who constantly underbet the pot.  Often they simply min-bet because they are afraid to commit chips to the pot with anything other than the nuts.  Even then, some timid players under value their monster hands.  I once sat next to a guy at the Monte Carlo poker room who mucked a straight flush because someone bet into him.  He inadvertently flashed his cards to be and I folded a set of kings.  You can believe that whenever he had cards I raised his bets when I was in position and bet into him with a substantial bet when I acted in front of him.

Defining Betting Patterns

One cannot define betting patterns from a single hand.  It takes three or four times around the table, maybe more, to accurately define how one approaches betting.  Even then, I am observant of changes that occur in what I identified as a pattern earlier.

While it is important to observe your opponents at the table, it is equally important to observe yourself and your own betting patterns.  If I have been really fortunate and I have been dealt three strong hands in a row and raised with them, if I am dealt another I will generally either check or call rather than raise.  I do not want my betting patterns to be transparent otherwise I will just be easy money.

I tend to size my bets equally no matter what position I am in or what two cards I have pre-flop.  My standard raise is 3 times the big blind.  It matters not to me whether I am under the gun or on the button or whether I have a 72 or AA in my hand.  If I am first to enter the pot I raise 3 times the big blind.  My standard C-bet is half to two-thirds the pot whether I have hit a hand or not.  I am always willing to give up a hand if I am pushed and I haven’t hit anything.  That is about as consistent as I can be.  When I mix it up a bit I will vary my opening raise up or down by a half a bet to a full bet and I will increase a C-bet to three-quarters of the pot.  By acting with consistency, I am not giving away any hand strength or weakness.  My hands remain unreadable.  All that goes out the window, however, when I find that I am being played back at by weaker players.  That means that I am getting little respect at the table and I need to change my strategy.

About the Author

Roger Fischel began playing poker with his friends in high school.  Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw were the games of choice back then.  Over the years, Roger turned to Texas Hold ‘em as his game of choice.  He plays both limit and no-limit hold ‘em regularly.  During a long career as a teacher, Roger learned the value of sharing what he knows with others as a way to give back to the community in which he shares, thus, Rags to the River Poker was born.  Roger recommends online poker tracking software for improving one’s game.  He also offers a listing of online poker sites which welcome US players.

Pattern Play Math & the Sevens Times Table by MisterNumbers

Oneida Mooncrest 45-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 8 $49.97 Frame an everyday dinnerware pattern or complement a dressy special-occasion table with the clean, gently rounded lines of Oneida’s Mooncrest flatware. Made of quality 18/0 stainless steel with a lustrous mirror polish, this durable yet elegant design features slightly elongated working ends balanced by slender flared handles with softly pointed tips. The curved edges make for a comfortable fit in…

Jessie Steele Ava Bib Apron Jessie Steele’s vintage-inspired, hostess and kitchen aprons prove true the old adage that beauty and style are timeless. Influenced by the romantic visions of a bygone era, and designed in vibrant colors, flirty patterns and figure flattering shapes, these fine quality, retro-chic cooking aprons make the perfect fashion accessory in or out of the kitchen. Type: Specialty Tools and Gadgets Color: …

Square 16-Pc Set, Service for 4 Designed by one of Europe…

Bosch RA1125 7-Piece Router Template Guide Set $25.23 This 7-piece router template guide kit includes the most popular template guide sizes. The adapter can be used with Porter-Cable, Black & Decker, other routers. Aluminum construction. Includes Bosch RA1100, RA1103, RA1105, RA1109, RA1113, RA1115, RA1121 template guides, case and comes with a 1-year warranty….

Smart Solar/Smart Solar 3011WRM1 Solar Scroll Light. Antique brown $19.95 This scroll designed solar lantern automatically illuminates at dusk. Up to eight hours of light when battery is fully charged. Decorative lighting ideal for tabletops for your garden, patio, or deck Frosted Glass in Antique Brown finish On/off switch to control light Automatically illuminates during darkness Powered by an integral solar panel Energy-saving White LED Up to 8 hours of light each n…

Smart Solar/Smart Solar 3010WRM1 Solar Dragonfly Light. Galvinized steel. Antique brown $13.77 This decorative lantern is ideal for tabletops for your garden, patio, or deck. Automatically illuminating during darkness and casting a dragonfly pattern on any surface, this solar lantern is sure to impress….

Using The Periodic Table $39.95 How do scientists collect facts about the universe? Is there a relationship between exploding stars and life on Earth? By observing chemical reactions that occur all around us, it is easy to find similarities among chemical elements. In Using the Periodic Table, students see how the elements are arranged, and underlying patterns are revealed. A dynamic tour of the groups that make up the table, co…

Skip Hop Pronto Diaper Changer Kit The Pronto is our portable diapering essentials kit that ensures that baby is always clean, dry and happy, and that mom and dad are always prepared. Drop it in any bag, strap it to your wrist or clip it to your stroller and you’re good to go! With loads of features, our Pronto is a favorite of moms and dads everywhere. Its extra-wide mod changing pad wipes clean, and the head area is cushioned wi…

Kids Playing Card Holders $4.90 Kids hold all the cards, with these neat-and-easy playing card holders! No more frustration for little hands; kids can easily hold them or stand them on a table. Organizes and displays up to 15 cards, freeing kids to focus on the game. For ages 3 and up….

Summer Infant Plush Pals Changing Pad Cover Change Pad Pals is a fun and cute way to cover up your changing pad. These plush covers are soft for baby’s comfort and are machine washable and fit most standard size change tables. Accommodates most changing pad safety straps….