13 Jul 2024 bet sizing continuation bet position pot control In poker, the concept "pot control" is sometimes used as a reason for deciding your action. Players might say, "I'll check here for pot control" or "I'll call instead of raising for pot control." Despite being a well-known concept in poker, pot control can be extremely dangerous if used without a clear understanding. Pot control is something that can be ignored if you are trying to improve your poker skills, but it is often heard about in entertainment casinos and older poker books, so many people may be concerned about it. This article explains what pot control is and why it should be used cautiously. What is Pot Control? Pot control refers to the deliberate effort to either increase or decrease the size of the pot. In poker, if you have the nuts, you want to maximize the pot size. Conversely, if your hand is neither strong nor weak, you want to avoid building a large pot. At first glance, it seems natural to want to maximize your profits when you are winning and minimize your losses when you are losing. The Dangers of Pot Control In Texas Hold'em, I never use pot control as a reason for making a particular move. Consider this example: Preflop: A♦A♣ UTG raises to 3bb, BB calls. Flop: 3♣Q♥8♥ BB checks, UTG bets 1/4 pot, BB calls. Turn: 3♣Q♥8♥7♥ BB checks, UTG? On the turn you get a nasty 7♥ — a card that completes flushes and two-pair hands in the opponent's range. While checking for pot control might seem prudent, it's not the best decision. Here's why: You still can extract value against flush draws and straight draws Checking allows flush draws to realize their equity It gives the opponent a chance to bluff on the river As you can see, there are many reasons why the pot control strategy is not effective. Why Pot Control is Problematic Pot control is too abstract to effectively explain Texas Hold'em strategies. In poker, you need a reason to bet or raise, and if there isn't one, you just check. Again, this will depend on your and your opponent's ranges (for example, if you have more equity overall, you should bet your entire range). However, if you always bet strong hands, your check range lacks strength, making it exploitable. Situations frequently mentioned as reasons for "checking for pot control" simply indicate a hand not strong enough to bet. Examples Where Pot Control Seems Applicable Consider the following scenario: Preflop: 7♣7♦ BTN opens for 3bb, BB calls. Flop: 4♦3♦J♠ BB checks, BTN bets 1/4 pot, BB calls. Turn: 4♦3♦J♠8♣ BB checks, BTN? Here, the BTN should check back. While pot control might seem the reason, but it's more about the difficulty of bluffing and the marginal showdown value of the hand. This reasoning more accurately explains the action, showing that pot control is unnecessary. How to Approach Pot Control Pot control can be a factor in decision-making but isn't highly reliable. Use it sparingly when other decision criteria are unclear, and strive to articulate your reasoning more accurately. While beginners might find such fuzzy criteria helpful initially, remember that it's a secondary tactic. Use pot control only when absolutely necessary and refine your understanding to explain your actions more precisely. Conclusion Pot control, while familiar in poker discussions, is often misunderstood and misapplied. It's better to base your decisions on clear, specific reasons related to range advantage, position, and opponent tendencies. This approach will lead to more consistent and successful play.
