Beginners generally have trouble knowing how much to bet when they hit a hand. For the most part they know to "take away the other guy's pot odds" but there's more to betting than that. Because... tell me if this happens to you... You have AK in early position. You raise it preflop and get callers. You flop top pair and their is a draw on the board. So you bet the pot PLUS on the flop and turn with someone calling you. On the river the draw MISSES and you make a smaller bet. The other guy raises the crap out of you (or even pushes). You figure him for a busted draw, call him, and get destacked by the set he flopped when his pocket pair hit. You think JESUS CHRIST, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO WIN A HAND AROUND HERE!!! And either reload or change tables because you're embarrassed.

I'm going to teach you a rule for betting NL ring (low buyin, although it's pretty universally true).

WITH TPTK OR AN OVERPAIR (EVEN ACES), Bet HALF TO 2/3 THE POT throughout the hand. IF YOU ARE RAISED (EVEN MIN. RAISED) YOU ARE BEAT. Lay it down unless you have a strong redraw of some sort. As long as you are just being called then you are going to win the hand 90% of the time. When you get raised, you are beat 90% of the time. Nothing in poker is 100%. Someone can bluff you with this rule. And sometimes really passive players will never raise if you're betting into them.

The alternative to this (in late position) is if someone is betting less than 60% of the pot into you then you are probably ahead (but now it's closer to 65% instead of 90%). There are ways to put the guy to the test, but this isn't about that. But if someone is betting 30% of the pot into you and you have TPTK, then you are ahead 90% of the time. Min raise them to get the bet over 50% of the pot. If they reraise push IT'S THE 10% !!! If they call they are probably on the draw and will check on the next card. IF they bet into you again, be wary. Just call them down as long as their bets are LESS THAN 50% of the pot.

This is a rule of thumb that you will find almost PSYCHIC in its ability to keep you out of trouble and allow you to play TPTK or 2 pair with confidence. 2 pair plays exactly the same way!! And if you think someone hit their draw but aren't sure, just use this rule. Assume they didn't and play the hand until they raise or bet more than 50% of the pot into you. (but remember that 50% of the pot INTO you is a 65% chance you're good, but a 30% bet into you is a 90% chance you're good). I hate math, but that's the way it goes.

Here's a psychological move you can try if you want to get froggy. You limp into a pot from early position or the blinds. The flop comes all the same suit. If you want to take a chance and bluff some people out of their shoes then take about half your available time to "think". Then check. IF it checks around and the person on the button bets but no one else does, then go in for a good sized raise of 1.5x the pot (and do it fairly quickly). Unless he has Top pair AND the A or K of the suit on the board he will fold. Everyone else will fold because they weren't interested in the hand anyway. If anyone calls youthen you need to get out of the hand.

But the timing on this bluff is the fun part. Let them see you THINK. and then do the check/raise. And this enhances most check/raises. Let them see you Contemplate your options throughout the move and then Jump On Them like you're saying HAHA CAUGHT YOU!!

GL