A Betting Size Tell

Let’s start with an introduction of Mr. Micro:

I call myself Mr. Micro, I’m 24 years old and I’ve played poker for almost two years. I’m playing 20NL cash games at the moment. I likes to play 6 max tables, 4-6 tables at a time, and I’m using pokertracker for tactical and statistic support.

So far I’ve cashed out most of my winnings instead of moving up in stakes. This is mostly because I still feel that I need to improve my game, and also afford to pay my bills. I hope this blog will give me a chance to share my poker adventures, discuss poker tactics and analyse played hands with you guys.

So let’s get to the action!

A betting size tell:
Yesterday I found myself on the button with Qc 8c. Everyone folded to me, so I thought this was a good opportunity to use my position and steal the beautiful blinds. At first I hesitated because Qc 8c was a hand from the bottom of my stealing range at this particular table. I had been forced to narrow my opening range from the button because the second player to my left, the big blind, was a real donkey!

But I raised to $0.70, as usual the nitty old man to my left folded. But of course the donkey instantly called my bet. The flop was Jh 8h 5c and the donkey bet out half the pot. At this point I asked myself; why did the donkey only bet half the pot?

This was a story I’ve heard before:
- If the donkey had an over pair he would have re raised before the flop.
- With a set or two pair he probably would have check raised the flop.
- If he had a jack he would surely bet more then half the pot to protect his hand from flush draws.

So I figured the donkey either had a weak pair, a straight draw or a flush draw. Because I was in position, faced a pretty small bet and probably even had the best hand – My call was confident.

The turn was a blank, and once again the donkey bet half the pot. At this point I felt even more convinced that I was up against a flush draw or maybe a straight draw. For a second I considered raising here to protect my hand, but I didn’t want to turn my hand into a bluff or build a big pot against this donkey. So once again I smoothly called the donkey’s bet.

The river was another blank, the donkey quickly checked and so did I.
I was happy to see the donkey show Ah4h for a busted flush draw, and I felt really pleased with myself for trusting my read. You have to trust your read when you play poker.

Mr. Micro

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