Donkbetting into a preflop raiser heads-up.

Does this play have any merit?

Discuss.

Are we talking a $2 bet into a $10 pot, or something more stunned like a min bet of say $1 into a $20 pot?

I see one use for it though I have never done it. If there are say 5-6 in the hand, a min bet *may* make some laydown when they see the flop completely miss them...preventing them from sucking out on you later. with like runner runner 6s or something.

If its short handed then I see a min bet = check.

Assuming by donkbet you mean min bet into the flop.

If you mean catching a great flop and trying to induce a bluff, I might.

By donkbetting I mean leading out.

Some people only do it with monster hands, but this is extremely transparent.

It all depends on how often this player will check a flop when he was the PFRer. If he checks often enough then leading out may be the only way to get money in.

Originally Posted by dsaxton

Does this play have any merit?

Yes.

Against weaker players you steal the c-bet. Against aggressive players it sets up bet/3-bet plays. Against really terrible players you can do it for value and fold to a raise.

The alternative lines either lack folding equity or establish your strength at higher effective stakes without building a pot (100+ish deep.)

Originally Posted by EricE

I see one use for it though I have never done it. If there are say 5-6 in the hand, a min bet *may* make some laydown when they see the flop completely miss them...preventing them from sucking out on you later. with like runner runner 6s or something.

If its short handed then I see a min bet = check.

Assuming by donkbet you mean min bet into the flop.

I like minbetting when in early position with a monster to induce further action and overbets, at which point I can push and get them to call with mediocre hands or fold and give me a large large bet by them.

Originally Posted by johnnyBuz

I like minbetting when in early position with a monster to induce further action and overbets, at which point I can push and get them to call with mediocre hands or fold and give me a large large bet by them.

It's a transparent line and doesn't win much if any more than just check/raising since an Aggro player would probably c-bet anyway.

I am a big user of betting into the preflop raiser with air when I think he's missed... mainly for the first point Fnord mentioned...

Basically what Fnord said. I don't do it a whole lot, maybe 15-20% of the time. I lead with monsters (sets/2-pr/straight), draws, air, and hands like top pair or weak overpairs that I hope to take it down right away without making it expensive by cr'ing.

I should probably do this more. I think you need to have been at the table a while though, to see how it plays, before you tap into this.

I love players who check to me every time I raise preflop.

if you auto-lead on the flop it surprising how many pots you steal

However one of the commonest mistakes nl only players make is only leading when they wan to stay in the pot or 3bet. Too obvious, learn to lead with a range.

Id add that with a 175+bbs stack you should be auto-leading every flop you see because of stack sizes etc.