Betting to get information
If you've been playing awhile, you've probably heard a guy at your table who had just made a bet, get raised or re-raised and say something like, "well, I found out what I needed to know" and then muck his cards. Betting is not always because you have the best hand. All of the best players, at all levels, use various betting techniques to try to gain information. I have made many bets or raises as a defensive bet early in a hand to discourage my opponent from making a bigger bet on the turn or the river. In many instances the opponent would then do the familiar nod and glance at me when he knocks the table to acknowledge his check which in many instances was the reaction that I was seeking. It's all about scenarios and how well you know your opponent. That same re-raise won't work against some players. There are those opponents that you know your re-raise is going to solicit a larger re-raise or an all-in. But, there are absolutely those instances when your re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand. If he/she comes back over the top..... get excited.... or get out!
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No doubt. A common example is when you have a raise in front of you and you're holding a medium pair, say nines through queens (yes, I consider queens a medium pair). I see so many people just call, waiting to see if the flop is "safe," then going broke when that safe flop (low cards) comes and their opponent has a higher pocket pair.
The problem is that if you just call the pre-flop bet, you have no idea where you stand. Of course, you can't play the same way all the time, but I believe you should normally put in a little re-raise to try and get a better idea of where you're at. If you get called, procede with caution. If you get re-raised, just muck and go on to the next hand. You made the raise to get information and you got it, now use it wisely! There will be another hand coming your way in just a few seconds...
Rick :-)
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