18 Dec 2024 Intermediate This material is for medium-skilled players barreling continuation bet turn So, you fire a c-bet on the flop, but your opponent calls. You’re staring at a turn card that seems useless and desperately trying to come up with a new plan. What should you do? Double barreling, or firing a second bet on the turn, is a complex yet essential poker strategy. It involves risking more chips on later streets, making precise execution crucial. In this article, we’ll cover the fundamentals of successful double barreling and show you how to integrate it effectively into your game. Master Flop C-Bets First Many tricky turn spots arise from poorly executed flop c-bets. If you don’t have a clear plan for the hand and c-bet without purpose, you’ll end up in difficult situations. While the strategy for flop c-bets is beyond the scope of this article, it’s crucial to develop a solid understanding of flop betting before diving into turn barreling. Double Barrel Basics Don’t double barrel against calling stations Reads are critical (as always) Avoid barreling without equity Barrel when the turn card is scary for your opponent Don’t forget to barrel when you improve on the turn 1. Don’t Barrel Into Calling Stations Bluffing players who rarely fold is a disaster for your bankroll. If your opponent is a calling station, save your chips and don’t attempt the double barrel bluff. 2. Use Reads to Your Advantage Understanding your opponent’s style and tendencies is key: If they frequently float the flop with weak hands, you can apply pressure on the turn. If they only continue with strong hands on the flop, a second barrel may not be effective. If they love calling down to showdown, your bluffs are less likely to succeed. The more you know about your opponents, the easier it becomes to decide whether a double barrel is the right move. 3. Don’t Barrel Without Equity When you fire a second barrel, it’s either a bluff or a semi-bluff. Always try to have some equity — such as a draw or overcards — when you barrel. This gives you a chance to improve if your turn bet gets called. If you have zero chance of improving on the river, it’s better to avoid barreling altogether. 4. Target Scary Turn Cards Turn cards that scare your opponent increase the likelihood of them folding. These are often overcards to the flop’s top pair. 5. Barrel When You Improve If the turn improves your hand, fire again — not just for balance but to extract value. If you only barrel with bluffs, opponents will quickly exploit your strategy. When to Fire a Double Barrel There are countless situations where you may need to apply pressure with a turn bet. For simplicity, let’s break it down into good, bad, and acceptable turn cards for double barreling. Good Turn Cards for a Double Barrel Overcards to the flop are excellent for double barreling: Flop: → Turn: Flop: → Turn: Flop: → Turn: These cards often fit your perceived range while poorly matching your opponent’s range. They make it hard for your opponent to continue with marginal hands like middle or bottom pair. Bad Turn Cards for a Double Barrel Bad turn cards include low cards, undercards to the flop, or paired board cards: Flop: → Turn: Flop: → Turn: Flop: → Turn: These cards don’t significantly change the situation for your opponent, making them more likely to call again. Avoid barreling on turn cards that don’t change the dynamics of the board. Acceptable Turn Cards for a Bluff High cards just below the top flop card can be acceptable for a double barrel: Flop: → Turn: Flop: → Turn: Flop: → Turn: These cards still challenge your opponent’s range, making it difficult for them to continue with weak pairs. However, if your opponent has top pair, these cards won’t scare them much, so they’re less ideal than overcards. Double barreling on these cards is situational and should rely on strong reads of your opponent’s tendencies. Conclusion To summarize the key points about double barreling: Overcards to the flop are great for a second barrel. Low cards and paired boards are bad for a second barrel. High cards below the flop’s top card are situationally acceptable. Double barreling involves numerous variables and nuances, making it one of the most challenging poker strategies to master. One last tip: If your double barrel doesn’t work, don’t feel obligated to shove all your chips on the river. It’s often wiser to fold and keep your stack than to chase a losing pot. Practice will refine your double barreling skills. Stick to scary turn cards for your bluffs, and you’ll see improvement over time!
