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Blocking Bets

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  1. Xin Xin is offline

    Orlando, FL
    United States

    Posts: 219
    Joined: Aug 06

    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 3:25pm)

    I'm a little confused how exactly the blocking bet works and/or when to use it. I mean, is it strictly a river bet when out of position, or is it used on the flop and turn? I've been trying to add this into my repertoire, but like many who try something new typically fail at first. I guess I should give MY definition of what a blocking bet is and see if I'm way off base...

    A blocking bet is when you are holding a decent hand (such as top pair with Queen kicker) that you feel may be good against an aggressive opponent...but you don't want to pay a large river bet to see if you are right, so you fire out a small bet in hopes that your opponent will be confused and just call. For example...

    Your hand = KQ
    Flop is Q27 rainbow. You bet and are min raised by opponent. You call.
    Turn is 2. You check, opponent bets 1/2 pot. You call.
    River is 9. You bet say 1/8 pot as a blocking bet.

    Am I right?

    Other questions I have about the blocking bet:

    - How much should you bet as a blocking bet? 1/5th of the pot., 1/8th, etc?
    - What type of opponent should you use a blocking bet against? So far, I've only used it, as far as I remember, against aggressive players. But it seems that my blocking bets only inspire my opponent to raise instead of just calling.

    Basically, I'm just trying to learn as much about the blocking bet as possible, and I didn't find anything about it in the strategy section or searching the forum. So any information would be greatly appreciated!
  2. TheWacoKidd TheWacoKidd is offline haters gonna hate

    Posts: 37,473
    Joined: Oct 05

    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 3:34pm) in reply to Xin

    lol at blocking bet, it's a myth

    each and every bet is either for value, or a bluff... there is no other kind of bet

    in your scenario, your lead on the river is a bluff, and a terrible one at that if you only bet 1/8 pot.... I would raise you on the riv with 99% of my holdings, thus making your bet a bluff since you obv don't plan on calling after your weak lead to "see where you're at"
     1
  3. daphishermen daphishermen is offline

    Hoboken, NJ
    United States

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 3:55pm) in reply to Xin

    A blocking bet is basically you taking control of the hand. When you have control you determine the action and the size of the pot. You have to bet enough to convince your opponent that you have it and make him scared of reraising you.
     
  4. vesperka vesperka is offline

    Granby, CT
    United States

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:22pm) in reply to TheWacoKidd

    I agree, betting 1/8th just screams weakness and anybody who's been paying attention will reraise with ATC, so you're setting yourself up to make a tough decision every time. I can't see this move being profitable in the long run.
  5. nuttedup nuttedup is offline

    Vacaville, CA
    United States

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:26pm) in reply to TheWacoKidd

    sounds like an easy way to get value from you on the river.
  6. TheWacoKidd TheWacoKidd is offline haters gonna hate

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:32pm) in reply to daphishermen

    lol
     1
  7. LuckiernU LuckiernU is offline

    Inver Grove Heights, MN
    United States

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:34pm) in reply to daphishermen

    In situations like you described I like to just check and try to figure out if he is bluffing or value betting by the size of his bet. If you throw out a blocking bet it is too easy to read. If you really had a hand you would obv check raise him if he was leading the whole way.
  8. dat333 dat333 is offline

    Christchurch
    New Zealand

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:50pm) in reply to LuckiernU

    I don't use blocking bets in MTTs they are just ridiculous.

    When they can be used is in cash games. For example...

    If I am playing a super laggy player and I am OOP. Say it's 1/2 NL. I have 9Tss and raise to $7 from the cutoff. Super LAG calls on the button. Pot now $17. The flop comes JT5 with two clubs. I cont bet 3/4 pot so make it $10. He calls. Pot now = 37. I check turn for pot control purposes/to see where he is at and he checks behind. Now I think he is drawing to the flush/open ender but am not 100% sure. I don't think he would check behind with top pair J as he is aggressive and not a weird/trappy player. The river comes blank two. Now I know if I check from knowledge this player will generally bet $25-30 into this pot representing a strong hand. He knows that you checked both the turn and river and therefore are expressing some weakness. Now he beats you with any ten with a better kicker, and j, and it is unlikely but bigger pair that he has trapped with and from time to time in previous encounters you have seen he has the ability to trap but rarely does it. Now he either has a flush draw/pocket pair below 10/QK or 89 for open ender or one of these other better holdings. You are unsure and will probably fold to a 30$ bet on the river. So therefore it pays here to blocxker out around 1/3 of the pot. Never bet less than a third it is just asking to be raised. And if he was on a draw he will fold. I can't think of better examples. But it is really a river bet to protect a marginal holding vs a super laggy player who is hard to get a read on on a scary board.

    Probably needs a better explanation.
  9. Rocket Surgeon Rocket Surgeon is offline & brain scientist

    United States

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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:55pm) in reply to dat333

    So you just described a method in which:

    1. Every hand that beats you calls and/or raises you.
    2. Every hand that you beat folds.

    Sign me up for that strategy!
  10. LesW LesW is offline

    Boston, MA
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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 4:58pm) in reply to dat333

    I thought a blocking bet was a way to draw out on someone OOP cheap if you have a weak tight player or someone who is slow playing who is in position. I think you have to be OOP for it to be a blocking bet vs you can semi bluff from any position. To waco's point in the overall story it is either a series of value bets or bluffs dependant on you hitting your hand or the texture of the board. And this really doesn't work against anyone who has seen 100k+ hands.

    Edit: For example:

    When people bet 1BB on a flush draw also called snadbagging
  11. LesW LesW is offline

    Boston, MA
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    Dec 14th, 2007 (12/14/2007 5:15pm) in reply to Rocket Surgeon

    That is very 1st level
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