When playing Texas Hold ‘em online, choosing the size of your bets is an essential part of your strategy. The correct sizing will help you extract the most value from your hand or encourage your opponents to fold.

In this blog post, you’ll learn all about a specific type of wager known as a block bet or blocking bet. This includes defining exactly what they are and explaining how to use them. If you want to improve your poker game, knowing how to employ this strategy effectively is a must.

What Is a Block Bet?

With the evolution of poker strategy over the years, the average bet size has decreased. Small bets now have various purposes depending on your strategy. For example, block bets have become much more prominent. 

These are relatively small wagers, often made by players out of position, to prevent an opponent from betting. The idea is to try and take control of the hand, or at least the size of the pot.

The size of these bets is 20–33% of the total pot. Normally, such a small bet size wouldn’t be advantageous. In addition, it’s usually a bad move to bet out of position. However, there’s a good reason to use this strategy.

Purpose of the Poker Blocking Bet

The main purpose of this bet is to prevent an opponent from making a larger one if you’d simply checked to them. You’ll use this strategy when you’re out of position. 

Being among the first to act at the poker table puts you at a major disadvantage. You must decide what to do before your opponents, meaning you’ll have less information to work with. In later positions, you’ll act after your opponents. This gives you a better understanding of their ranges, and you can make a better-informed decision. 

If you check, your opponent could make a large bet and force you out of the hand. By using block bets, it’s more likely that they’ll call instead of raising unless they have a very strong hand. 

Because you only make a small bet, there’s not much risk involved. This makes it more suitable for playing cautiously when out of position. In addition, many opponents are often unsure how to play against block betting effectively.

When Should You Use Block Bets

Block betting is a viable strategy. However, it’s not suitable for all situations. You should only use this strategy if the following factors are in play:

• You’re out of position.
• You have more than 50% equity compared to your opponent’s range.
• There’s a danger that too many better hands would call you if you made a bigger bet.
• Your opponent may put you in a tough spot if you check and they make a medium- to large-sized bet.

The strategy also improves your chances in the following online poker situations:

• If you’re holding a marginal hand, you can hold off your opponent’s aggression while also thin-value betting.
• When you’re on a draw, it keeps the pot small until one of your outs hits. Block betting is the best strategy unless you think you could make your opponent fold.
• Block betting lets you get away cheaply when you’re holding the second-best hand. If your opponent raises, you’ll have a pretty clear idea that you’re beat.

The Risks of Block Betting

Of course, there are downsides to block bets. While confidence in poker is important, it’s also important to consider the potential risks. 

When you play against high-level opposition, there’s a greater chance that they’ll see through your strategy. Block betting is highly effective against players who aren’t used to it. However, it makes you vulnerable if you’re too transparent.

To avoid this risk, you need to use a balanced strategy. This means occasionally turning down a block bet when you really should make one, or using the strategy when you have a strong hand. Don’t worry too much about missing out on value when making small bets with great hands. Being unpredictable will earn you more value in the long run if you’re playing against the same opponents for a while. 

How To Use the Poker Blocker Bet Effectively

Block betting is highly effective when used correctly and helps improve your win rate. Here are some key tips to maximize the potential of this strategy.

Use Block Betting Often

A block betting strategy will almost always be the most effective option when on the turn following a check-check situation. Whether this is a single-raised or 3-bet pot, blocks are the way to go. 

You must remain mindful of where you employ this strategy, but as long as the conditions are right, you should use it often. 

Don’t Make Block Bets When You’re in Position

While block betting might be an effective strategy out of position, you should avoid it when in position. The main goal of this type of bet is to prevent better-positioned opponents from building the pot. Therefore, it loses its value when you are in position, as you already have control of the pot size when it’s checked to you.

Small value bets on the river are effective when in position, but this is completely different from block betting. Focus on making the most of your position and only use the specific block bets when you’re out of position.

Split Your Ranges

Typically, block betting is suitable for a wide range of hands. However, you shouldn’t make a habit of using it too often, especially when you have valuable hands. Your best value betting hands should still mostly focus on maximizing the pot with bigger sizes, even when out of position.

You should arrive at most rivers with a bet sizing strategy already planned. Use your small block betting strategy for marginal hands and your bigger sizes for the value hands.

Block Your Opponents and Win More Hands at Borgata Online

For a long time, players saw block betting as a poor strategy that simply invites aggression. However, most online poker experts now accept that it has an important place in the game. In fact, this strategy can be highly effective if used correctly.

Make use of the tips in this guide when you play poker online and maximize your win rate and profits. Register at Borgata Online for the best online poker experience, with hundreds of cash game tables and real money tournaments to enjoy.