If you’ve ever played a round of poker, you’ll likely know that it can be a complex but rewarding game! You’ll also likely know that there are many different hands, strategies and moves you can employ to help increase your cash pot. If you’ve ever played Texas Hold’em, for example, you might be aware of a thing or two regarding blocking bets.
But what exactly are blocking bets? Are they worth using mid-game? How can they improve your chances of winning? Whether you play at an NJ online casino or in a real-life Vegas lounge, it’s well worth brushing up on strategies and moves. In fact, using top strategies at an online lounge such as Resorts Casino is a fantastic place to start.
So – what is a blocking bet?
Blocking bets are actually fairly modern, as far as the evolution of the game of poker is concerned. As the name suggests, a blocking bet effectively prevents your fellow players from making certain moves.
The aim of a blocking bet is to prevent other players from re-raising too high or to continue escalating their bets. One of the best ways to block bets from other players is to simply raise your bet to such an extent that other bettors can’t afford to keep raising. Consider raising a bet to around a third of the pot, for example.
This shouldn’t be too much of a strain on your bankroll, and it should also raise questions for other players. If you’re not in position in a round, one of the best things you can do is to raise suspicions and to attack confidence in hands. After all, poker is a game just as much about reading other people as it is actually picking up the best cards.
Is a blocking bet worth raising?
In some circumstances, raising a blocking bet could be well worth the effort. It’s ideal for those players who, while naturally wanting to win big, want to cast a cautious eye over the game. No matter your experience and no matter your broader game plan, caution is always good to factor in.
We all want to make sure we keep winning. However, you sometimes have to make do with a hand that’s not exactly going to drain money from the pot. A blocking bet could be a good move if you want to reduce the pot size while ensuring other bettors don’t go too crazy, running your own bankroll down.
Take caution!
As with all poker strategies and moves, it’s worth remembering that block bets can have their downsides. There’s always the risk that you are playing with extremely experienced people, or that you accidentally misread the table.
That’s why we’d probably not advise undertaking blocking bets if you are relatively new to poker. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with different beginner poker strategies first, and to then start looking at ways to spice up the game from there!
