By the time I found my way to playing poker, everything was No Limit Hold’em and then Pot Limit Omaha. Limit games were dying out and the “saving a bet” or “getting in an extra bet” techniques that had been so vital in Limit fell off as a “bet” changed from being a blind or two into potentially hundreds of big blinds. Over the years, I have played a little Limit poker, but still prefer the No Limit and Pot Limit varieties of the game.

“It’s not that bet that worries me. It is the next one.” I have heard some variation of that regularly over the years. Since I play in games where the player pool is relatively small and consistent, I see the same opponents week after week and year after year. Even if they aren’t actively paying attention to what I am doing, they can’t help but pick up some things over time. One of those things is that once I come into a pot, there is often a lot of pressure coming on multiple streets or every street.

Many pots have come my way where a continuation bet in itself wouldn’t always be enough, but my opponents having the perception that I will always bet the turn and river can cause them to fold a hand they may have continued with against other players. Aggression and constant pressure give you the ability to leverage your stack without actually putting it at risk.

If I am sitting $2,000 deep against a player with an equal stack who has experience with me, I can get the benefit of my full stack while only putting a small portion of it at risk. When I bet the flop for $200, they may call, but with the expectation that the next larger bet is coming and likely another even bigger bet after that, I get to use $2,000 worth of pressure while only betting 10% of that amount.

The better news: it doesn’t actually take all that much two- and three-barrel betting to get the reputation of being someone who always bets. Many times, I shut down on the flop, and a pure turn bet bluff is not something I do too often. I will bet hands for value, of course, but I’m not just shelling away every time I am in a pot no matter what. That added pressure from a bet they expect to come has won a lot of pots for me.

Knowing how others perceive you and how they are likely to react is the key to playing poker successfully. Players act on what they think is happening, not what is actually happening.

The image of applying constant pressure and continually betting every street has taken me a long way. At the same time, most of my opponents think I always have it when the big money goes in. Combine those two common but flawed assumptions and there are plenty of ways for me to find value even on days when I never really make a big hand.

Court Harrington has worked on the business side of the poker industry in roles including tournament reporting for PocketFives, radio hosting for PokerRoad Radio, coaching for the WSOP Academy and privately, and a variety of behind-the-scenes responsibilities for poker media businesses. He also plays in cash games and tournaments. Harrington is currently doing consulting work and exploring business opportunities outside of the poker industry. You can contact him at Court@CourtHarrington.com.

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