Why Try To Control Pot Sizes

Before you play any pots in tournaments, try to figure out what kind of players you are up against. What the table is like, loose aggressive, conservative, rocks, maniacs, etc. This is very important to how you play your hand and how and when to get chips in. If the table or opponent is loose, then you better have something before you commit a lot of chips. With a rock, if they are in they might be trying to see the flop cheaply. If they are in with a raise, look out. They definitely have something. You want to play small pots with your lesser hands and big pots with big hands. Bluffing is not a good idea when your opponents are deep stacked. Also look at what the flop is. Scare cards, over cards, flush draws, straight draws, did you get a piece of it?

If you are sitting with a high pair in the hole and the flop comes out with straight or flush possibilities , but not for your hand, be careful. Against an aggressive player, you might want to check. Then if they bet, you can smooth call or check raise depending on your read of the opponent. Usually it is called for a continuation bet from you here, but I think a check is better. Give you a feel for where you are at.

If you are in position then it is a bit easier to play these types of players. They have to react to what you do and not vice versa. Now you can control the pot and not them. By checking out of position then reacting, you can control the pot there also. Make them think a bet if you reraise them. If they hit you hard after the flop, you can also fold up your tent fairly cheaply if you don't have much. It all depends on where you feel you are at in the hand. Are you ahead or are you chasing.

Against a tighter player with the same type flop, you can get away with a normal continuation bet in or out of position. They won't usually mess with you like an aggressive player would unless they truly have something good. If they do have something, they will let you know. Then, if you think they are ahead of you, get out cheaply or if you have a good one, reraise them and make them sweat. Again, you have control, not them.

What is on the flop is very important. If you are sitting with a decent pair in the pocket and a straight and flush draw flop, well, now you need to think. If somebody bets out, are these the types of cards that they might hold that would beat you. It is best to check and let them do the betting. Try to keep the bets small or let them bet after you check and then decide, do I call or get out.

The idea here is to try and control the size of the pots you are in. Keep them small if you are on a drawing hand or try to build them a bit if you have a monster. If you can do this, you should go much farther in the tournament than you might normally. It is about doing your best to read your type of opponents in the hand, what they have played or might play, and what the flop looks like.

Good Luck at the Tables,
Scott