Betting Patterns in Poker

Recognizing the Patterns for Profit

Dec 13, 2007 Todd Hendrickson

Knowing the betting pattern of a player is as good as money in the bank.

Anybody whose been playing the game for a while has a pattern to their betting. It's impossible not to, mainly because it's a sense of comfort and consistency. When your are dealt pocket aces you are most likely going to do a big raise, or if you are given suited face cards you will raise.

At the same time if you are in late position and are dealt an ace you may simply call and then raise after the flop. Or if the flop brings two more hearts to your suited Ace jack suited hole cards you will automatically fall back into your pattern of betting to try an maximize your pot and minimize your risk.

Basic Patterns

There are a few basic patterns to watch for at the tables, and each can give a good indication of the strength of the opponents hand. They are bet, bet, call; call, call, raise; and raise, raise, raise.

Bet,Bet, Call

When this pattern is used, it usually means that the person was hoping to hit their card, whether it was a flush or a set, but didn't get it. They usually have a

strong unpaired hand like two face cards or an ace. Re raising them on the river usually forces them to fold, since they are only going to hope to win with high card.

Call, Call, Raise

This pattern is a good sign that they have something, and is commonly called the slow play. What happens is that the other players feel like they have followed him to the river so they possibly have him beat, but usually end up losing their stacks.

Raise, Raise, Raise

Usually only two kinds of players d this. one is a player who has the nuts and probably has either 4 of a kind or a royal flush or some other unbeatable hand. The other kind of player is a maniac. They are raising just to try and steal the blinds or even to generate action at the table.

Telling on You

These patterns are all classic tells for online players and brick and mortar casino players. In the beginning of most games don't only go by the patterns, just remember that as the game goes on people will start to resort back to what's comfortable for them.

These are only some of the patterns at the table, and once you recognize them, use it to your advantage. At the same time, use the betting patterns to misrepresent your hand and force people to call by making them think you didn't hit your card, and watch your stack grow.

The copyright of the article Betting Patterns in Poker in Card/Board/Lawn Games is owned by Todd Hendrickson. Permission to republish Betting Patterns in Poker in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

4 of a kind