Useful, but exploitable Blocker bets are useful when you hav | Pokerton ♠️ News

Useful, but exploitable
Blocker bets are useful when you have a marginal hand or are chasing a draw.

If you get to the river with second pair and think your hand is good, you don't want to get pushed off it or face a tough decision when you check to an aggressive opponent. By firing out a 20% of pot bet you avoid having to call a full pot bet, you might get your opponent to call with a weaker hand and at the same time you will get them to fold a hand they might have successfully bluffed you with.

If you are chasing a flush or straight draw and a big bet from your opponents would not give you the right odds to call, a small blocker bet might lay you the correct odds you need to see another street. It also might occassionally get folds or you can get away cheaply when you miss.

The risk with blocker bets is that it is quite obvious what you are doing to a thinking poker player. They work well against weak regulars but a good aggressive player will recognise you rarely have a big hand when you bet out of position for a small amount and bluff raise you off a lot of pots.

For this reason, against good players, you have to incorporate balance with the range of hands you blocker bet with. You have to occassionally make a small out of position bet with a very strong hand to avoid being exploited by an aggressive opponent capable of bluff raising.

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