Texas Hold 'Em Power Plays: Power Plays with Pot Odds

I realize that the concept of "pot odds" may be more than some poker players want to consider. The math may be too involved or the entire concept may just escape some casual players that still want to improve their game. If you are in that group (or even on the fringes of that group) don't despair, there is still a simple way that you can use pot odds to convert uninspired play into Power Play.

I will not bore you with the math related to pot odds. Instead, think of pot odds like this. If you see lots of chips in the middle of the table and you only have to put in a few chips to have a shot at all those chips in the middle of the table, your pot odds are good. If you see a few chips in the middle of the table and you have to bet lots of chips for a chance to win the small stack, your pot odds are bad. It really does not need to be any more complicated than that.

The Power Play is equally simple. You should try and fill out a flush or an inside straight or hope for the third card in a set of small cards or hope that you can improve your unimpressive two pair if the pot odds are good -- if you only have to bet a few chips to win many. You should fold those hands if you have to bet lots of chips to win a few. Indeed, if you are in the small blind and everyone at the table has called, you should call as well because you are getting great pot odds. With ten people at the table, your pot odds are almost ten to one. In that case it is a Power Play to call even with a 7/2 off-suit.

Conversely, it can be a Power Play to fold if the pot odds are bad. You have a strong pair in the hole such as QQ. You made a small raise pre-flop and had only one caller, the big blind. The flop comes 10, J, A off suit. Your pair likely beats the other player if he had a small pair and even if he had only one large card, unless, of course, the large card was an Ace. You feel pretty good about your hand. The big blind bets first and makes a very substantial bet three times the size of the pot. Depending on your assessment of the other player, the Power Play here may be to fold. Unless you think the other player is bluffing, you are going to be required to put up lots of chips to only win a few and your Power Play is a fold.

All of this supports the first and foremost rule of Power Players. Win the big pots and, if you have to lose a few hands, make sure they are the small pots.

Lingo

Aggressive -- when applied to a poker player, this means one who bets or raises in large amounts. Being aggressive when one sees a chance to win a pot is a Power Play and must not be confused with loose or soft play which is not a Power Play.
Big Blind -- a forced bet that the player must put up before the cards are dealt. The big blind rotates clockwise around the table with each hand. The player with the obligation to post the big blind sits two seats to the left of the player designated as the dealer. The player in the big blind bets last on the first round of betting but bets second on all subsequent rounds.
Call -- match the bet of a previous player or, before the flop, matching the size of the big blind
Chase -- trying to fill in a hand that is not already good by calling bets and hoping that the next community card or cards will complete a straight, flush or other good hand
Check -- declining to bet when given the opportunity -- can be thought of as a bet of zero
Check Raise -- checking on your first opportunity to bet during a betting round and, after another player who bets later makes a bet, raising the other player's bet in the same round of betting
Dark -- taking some type of betting action before seeing the cards
Flop -- the first three community cards turned face-up by the dealer after the first round of betting
Flush -- five cards of the same suit. If more than one player has five cards of the same suit, the player with the highest ranked cards in that suit wins. This is one of the reasons that Aces are so important.
Fold -- decline to participate in a pot by giving your hole cards to the dealer
Hole Cards -- two cards dealt to each player face down at the beginning of the hand
Inside Straight -- an opportunity (?) to draw an additional card to complete a straight when only one card will do. Be careful. This is a sucker bet. For example, your hole cards and the community cards give you 8, 9, J, Q. You have an inside straight draw because you can complete your hand with only a 10. Also called a Gut-Shot Straight Draw.
Loose -- a style of play characterized by players who stay for almost every hand and bet with hands that more conservative players would fold. Loose is also called soft. Loose should not be confused with aggressive.
Open-Ended Straight -- an opportunity to draw an additional card to complete a straight with either of two cards. For example, your hole cards and the community cards give you 8, 9, 10, J. You have an open-ended straight draw because you can complete your hand with either a 7 or a Q.
Raise -- increasing the bet of an opponent or, before the flop, increasing the size of the big blind or a previous bet.
River -- the fifth and final card turned face-up by the dealer after the third round of betting and before the fourth and final round of betting
Set -- three of a kind, also called trips
Slow Play -- having a very strong hand but calling or raising the minimum amount in order to convince the other players that you do not have a strong hand
Small Blind -- a forced bet generally one-half the size of the big blind that the player must put up before the cards are dealt. The small blind rotates clockwise around the table with each hand. The player with the obligation to post the small blind sits on the dealer's left. The player in the small blind bets next to last on the first round of betting and first on each subsequent round.
Turn -- the fourth community card turned face-up by the dealer after the second round of betting -- also called fourth street

Texas Hold 'Em Power Plays

Power Plays with Pot Odds

Blog Archive

Kids in College?

Lingo