betting question

Hi, just joined and been reading through-some great tips, thanks all.

I have a quick betting question, if you're bluff (or semibluff) gets called (not raised) and the next card doesn't help you, how do you bet the next card? For example, you're in late position, get dealt 2 pocket 4s. 4 players call for the flop, flop is 10, 5, 8 rainbow. Everyone checks to you, testing the waters you bet half the pot. all fold, except one calls. Turn is a 3. They check, do you bet, check or what. Chances are you're beat but if called on a crappy hand do you give up on it or try to bet to see if they'll fold?
thanks for any advice,

2 pocket fours? you hold 4 cards? lol just kidding.

It's all situational. In your situation, I would check. Then again I play limit.

If it were me, I'd bet again, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of the pot. Probe for info with this bet. If you get called to the river, pray. If he re-raises, fold.

This sounds like no limit, so you bet again. This depends on the chip stacks. If the caller has alot more chips than you, then it's more dangerous.

If you raised this preflop you'ld have a better idea of what others are holding. That's why it's always more dangerous - in my opinion - to play an unraised pot than a raised pot. Sometimes you have to carry the bluff through to the river.

It's also why you want to watch the other players and how they play. Is the caller loose, does he fold on the turn or river, etc. Does he slowplay? Watch the pots you're not in and see how people play, then you'll have a better read. The continuation of the bluff depends on it.

thanks for the advice. I usually try to bet again-the same or a little more than the 1st bet to see what the player does. If I get re-raised, I fold. Wouldn't checking on the turn be a clear-"if you bet, I'm out" message?

In situations like this, I rarely take stack size into account-I will pay more attention to this, excellent advice.

Thanks again

Originally Posted by guitarhero14

2 pocket fours? you hold 4 cards? .

Silly guitarhero. That, of course, would be spelled "2 pocket 4ses"

Originally Posted by danzak

For example, you're in late position, get dealt 2 pocket 4s. 4 players call for the flop, flop is 10, 5, 8 rainbow. Everyone checks to you, testing the waters you bet half the pot. all fold, except one calls.

This, in my opinion, was a bad bluff. You have what they call "reverse implied odds" -- very little chance to improve, and the only way more chips are going in is if opp's(es) hand(s) are better than yours. Ick.

That said, you've shot yourself in the foot, and your only chance at this pot is to shoot again and hope you hit the other guy's foot this time.

Consider: go ahead and check this turn. If a big card comes on the river, bet it Very Strong. your flop bet will look like a classic overcard-only semibluff that sucked out.

Or: go all in immediately on the turn. Board offers no straight, presumably no flush. and you look like you're protecting (opp's call of the flop probably a draw)

Playing aggressively on these hands will make your testicles larger.

hmm, you've given me a couple of ways to go about this. Thanks kindly for the advice.

There are two kinds of calling stations. One will call a flop bet with anything on the flop but fold to a bet on the turn. Another will call with middle pair on both the flop and the turn. Also, some calling stations only call with draws. They will call up to a pot-sized bet on the flop but fold on the turn if they don't hit. If you observant and pay attention to their previous hands you can determine what kind of calling station they are.

I wouldn't bluff in this situation at all. There are four people and one of them is bound to call a half-pot-sized bet. If I did make this bluff I think I would check/fold the turn and the river. Somebody has called you on your bluff and its time to give it up. There is also a good chance that your opponet won't even bet the river unless they improve.