My new free poker online coaching lesson looks at how to make cunning use of small bets to get big wins. So how can a series of small bets add up to a very sneaky play? And why will do good players switch from conventional big bet thinking to small?

Here is a hand example that shows the idea:

BLINDS 6k/12k

PREFLOP:

A comes from small blind, has got 9d-4d, raises to 35k
B from big blind, has got As-3s, calls 23k (Pot 88k)

Both plays are simply standard plays. A may be trying to steal the big blind with a raise from the small blind. B calls since he’s got a good hand for the upcoming Flop.

FLOP: Js-Jh-10h

A bets 25k (Pot 123k)
B calls 25k (Pot 138k)

Here A’s bet is just small, because he has nothing, but he wants to take away the pot by representing a Jack on a paired board, or a draw. On a flop with Straight and Flush possibilities presenting, B might well put A on a draw and wait to see if A slows later. Also, with a call he gets 5-1 odds.

TURN: Js-Jh-10h-Kc

A bets 25k (Pot 163k)
B calls 25k (Pot 188k)

A bets again! Might A possess the Jack or 10? Now, what B is thinking is that he is getting about 6.5-to-1 on a call to hit an Ace (where if A also has an Ace, they may split the pot) or a Queen (for a Straight). So he calls.

RIVER: Js-Jh-10h-Kc-8h

A bets 30k (Pot 218k)

Still A bets again! Now with a blank river card which hardly fill any possible Flush or Straight (maybe 9-7 or Q-9, but I don’t think both of them think the other one has it) why did A fire three times! And not just that, they were small bets. It might be a value bet where A has a J and trapped B for 2 further bet rounds.

It may also be a value bet where A had A-Q. B might consider: “A might know I’ve got nothing, but if uses big bets he’ll make me fold. So he bets small, hoping to extract more chips from me. I’m getting 8.5-to-1 on a call, but no matter. I’m not going to fall again.” B shakes his head and folds.

A shows a bluff!

If A bet big B may also think that A is just sustaining a three-round bluff, and may call it. And recall B is a good player, and can detect sneaky stuff like this. (B by the way is Elky Grospellier. And A is Jeff Shulman.) But A was betting small and good players think good players think smaller bets are value bets, as a result good players indulging in reverse psychology are able to bluff other good players with small bets that resemble value bets.

Try your hand at small bet techniques by practicing your poker on a free online poker site like NoPayPOKER.com where you can do lot of riskless free poker online training.