No Limit Holdem Cash Games Intermediate Strategy

Aspiring poker players want to know: I’ve learned some basic strategy; how do I take my game to the next level? Using some of the approaches used by professional players is a good place to start. Studying some more advanced moves and gradually incorporating them into your game will pay off in the long run. It is usually wise to drop down in limits a little bit before changing your approach to the game. This will allow you to take some risks that you might not take at your regular limit with less damage if you make the right move at the wrong time.

The Continuation Bet

You are playing your standard no limit holdem cash game. It folds to you, and you pick up AQ suited in middle position. You stick in a standard raise of three times the big blind. The button and one of the blinds call your raise. The flop comes K84 with only one of your suit. You missed yet another flop. The big blind checks to you. Do you a) check, b) bet 2/3 of the pot, or c) push all in?

The correct answer in most cases is b). You showed strength before the flop. Two players simply called your raise rather than re-raising, so it is unlikely they started with a big pair or AK. There is a good chance here that a bet will take down the pot, as you will be representing that the flop helped you. If neither player was improved by the flop either, they will probably quietly fold here and you will gather in a small pot. If not, you have risked very little and can get out of the way if you don’t improve further (or if someone raises you).

If you bet two-thirds of the pot in situations like this, it is a breakeven move if you win without resistance only two-fifths of the time. If the pot is $18 before the flop, and you bet $12, you will lose $36 on the three unsuccessful bets (assuming you don’t improve to win the hand), and win $36 on the two successful bets. If you make a half-pot sized bet on the flop, it only needs to be successful one time in three.

The continuation bet is almost standard in no limit holdem, and you will need to do it successfully if you want to keep up. There are several considerations to take into account when continuation betting:

- Preflop aggression. If you were the preflop raiser, you are in a situation to be aggressive postflop. If you simply called a raise, but hit the flop, you should usually allow the other player a shot at being aggressive before you continue.

- Number of opponents. Continuation bets work best against one opponent, and are often successful against two. If you are facing more than two opponents after the flop, you should usually have some kind of hand or draw before getting further involved in this pot.

- Flop texture. Is the flop the kind that often hits a preflop raiser? If you put in a continuation bet with AQ on a K84 flop, you will often chase out hands that might have called preflop, but want out of the way after. Even someone with a middle pair made hand like 98 or A8 suited might fold here. If there are two suited or connected cards on the flop, you might get a call from someone on a draw. In that case, it might be wise to wait for a safe turn card before sticking in a bet. Three suited or connected cards are even harder to bet into. For one, someone may have a hand, but for certain they will have a harder time believing your bet.

- Your table image. If you have played a relatively tight, straightforward poker game up to this point, your continuation bet will be a little more believable. If you have shown down several marginal hands recently, you might be wise to play a little more conservatively here and wait for an actual made hand before showing aggression, hoping to restore your image a little bit.

- High cards on the flop. A high card or two on the flop is more likely to have hit a preflop raiser, especially an ace. If the flop is 832, you might be wise to wait this one out, at least for one round.

- Your bet size. It is important to bet the same amount (in relation to the pot) whether you have a made hand or not, so opponents cannot get a read on you based on bet size.

If you make a continuation bet without an improved hand, and get a call or a raise, it is best to play cautiously. Keep the pot small if you can, and don’t be afraid to fold to a big bet. Your opponent may be bluffing, but most players (especially at lower limits) play a straightforward game, and you won’t be the first person to make a reasonable raise preflop but miss the flop. Committing yourself to small pots just because you were the preflop raiser is a long-term losing strategy. Playing cautiously can also set your image up for the future. Next time you’ll take it down without a hassle, and you’ll be back to even for the plays.