We are commonly told to try and see cards as cheaply as possible when holding less than premium hands. This is especially true when you are holding a drawing hand and just want to see if you can hit that draw on the next card. However, there are many successful players who aren’t afraid to make pot-sized raises when holding less than premium hands. Of course whether or not you decide to frequently make pot-sized raises is a decision that should be made after looking at the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.
One advantage of making a pot-sized raise is that you can force everyone to fold – especially when there is a bad flop on the table. And even if other players do decide to stay in the hand then they will usually only call rather than re-raise.
Another great thing about pot-sized raises is that they can help you find out a lot about your opponents. Anybody who is willing to top a pot-sized raise is definitely going to be revealing something about them self in the process. One other advantage to these raises is that they can get you good action if other players aren’t afraid to put this kind of money on the table.
Of course there are downsides to pot-sized raises as well with the first one being that some players don’t consider this raise to be big at all. In fact, they may counter with a double pot-sized raise of their own which can force you out of the hand.
Another problem is that you will lose a decent amount of money if you’re forced to fold after a pot-sized wager. Sure you may want your opponent to fold after a big raise like this, but sometimes they’ll come over the top with a re-raise which can really put you in a bind.
One more reason not to make pot-sized raises is that it may not be enough on the flop or turn since riskier players can stay in and hit their draw. Of course this can actually be an advantage too since players don’t always have as good of odds as they think they do when trying to hit a draw. Since this is the case, people who contribute to the pot while going for low percentage draws will usually be giving their money away.
When everything is said and done, deciding whether a pot-sized wager is appropriate or not depends on the players at the table, the community cards, and your own image. But always make sure to remember the advantages and disadvantages before you make a decision.
