Read About Common Poker Tells (#4): Betting Patterns

Common Poker Tells (#4): Betting Patterns

The most common action players take at the table is betting. How a player bets can give away huge amounts of information about their holding. Being aware of any “patterns” in how your opponents bet will give you information about their hand. Betting patterns are one of the easiest tells to overcome yet many players are unable to do so.

The most common betting tell is when a player tries to see flops cheap with marginal hands but will raise with their strong hands. The suited connectors and small pairs get limped and the big pairs and big aces are raised. The simply way to avoid any betting pattern is to bet the same amount every single time you enter a pot. If you always come in for a 3 times the big blind raise, no one will know what you have based on any betting pattern.

By the same token, players who are able to randomize their bets can lure their opponents in making bad decision based on perceived betting pattern tells. Suppose you limped 20% of the time, regardless of your holding; which means that 1 in 5 times you limp with a playable hand. You will limp with Aces once in five; and you limp with deuces the same. Now not only are you not giving a readable betting tell but you are luring your opponents into making false assumptions about your hands.

As far as reading your opponents betting patterns, watch for limpers who fold to most post-flop bets; they are trying to get in cheap and hit a monster flop. Such players are often going to lay down those limped hands to a pre-flop raise and hand you uncontested chips.

-This is Beginner’s Poker Forum Post #105