In this episode, I share 5 of my post-flop focused Anchor segments from the past 8 weeks of almost daily Anchor App usage.

In episode 154, I discussed my daily 2-5 minute Anchor podcast where I share with you random poker thoughts about studying, strategies and mindset.

More Probes & Floats (2:40)

This Anchor segment was a companion podcast to episode 360, in which I discussed Probe bets and Float bets.

Probe Bets:

• Probe bets are made out of position when the potential cbettor checked behind instead of cbetting the prior street
• My Probe bets are very profitable: my turn win rate is +340bb/100 hands, and on the river it’s +206bb/100 hands.
• A lot of my losing Probe bet hands happen when my opponent is capable of checking-behind 2^nd pair on the flop. These players are pot controlling by not betting, but are willing to call down to see SD with their SD worthy hand.
• When opponents are capable of checking-behind with decent mid-pair+ hands, make note of that to help avoid betting into strength.

Float Bets:

• Float bets are made when IP and the potential cbettor checks to you on any street.
• My Float bets are very profitable: on the flop my win rate is +315bb/100, on the turn it’s +1,148bb/100 hands and on the river it’s +3,000bb/100 hands.
• My win rates go up street by street because your float bets on later streets earn more due to the cbets and your calls having built the pot on prior streets.
• Floating on the turn and river are super profitable.
• Use your hand reading skills to determine the strength of their hand at the time of their check and figure out why they bet the prior street and checked this street.

The Check-raise (8:00)

Check-raises appear to be strong 2p hands or better, so they make great bluffs especially vs foldy players who cbet a lot.

Check-raising over frequent cbettors can gain maximum value with your strongest hands, especially if they know you’re capable of check-raise bluffing.

They’re also great for semi-bluffs (bluffing with the potential of hitting a strong draw on a future street).  This is a great play for two reasons:

1. They give you very good fold equity. You can win the pot right then with your check-raise, no need to hit your hand.
2. They can lead to a free river card when made on the flop. So, you’ve flopped a flush draw and check-raise.  The opponent calls with a SD worthy hand because they think they might have a winner.  The turn comes and you miss your flush.  They check-behind to avoid another check-raise, and you get that free river card.

Also, don’t check-raise willy-nilly.  Have a reason for it (bluff or value) and know that you’ll likely get what you want.

My Big Leak: Fold to Turn Bet (11:00)

LeakTracker (within PokerTracker 4) shows you where you may have a potential leak.  For me, I’m folding wayyyyy to much on the turn (Fold to Turn Bet % at 77% – eek!).  This is the next big leak I’m going to turn it into a chip accumulating skill.

I’m folding to various bets, it’s not just folding to the double-barrel cbet.  I’m just way too turn honest here, and this makes it very easy to exploit me by betting every turn against me.  I won’t allow this to stand!

Next week’s poker study plan: Fold Less to Turn Bets.

Possible solutions: fold more on the flop, hand read my opponents better, get more aggro on the flop and turn and use the aggression to earn pots, call more often vs turn bettors who don’t have to have a good hand to make the bet.

Don’t Be Overly Foldy (18:45)

This is a long-time weakness of mine, and it relates to the prior segment of my leak of folding too much on the turn.

I see “monsters under the bed” when I’m facing bets, so I tend to fold too much.

I’m working to get beyond this by hand reading my opponent as I’m playing.  By assigning an accurate range pre-flop, then narrow this as the streets progress.  Assess what parts of their range beat yours, and try to name the hands that will fold to your bluffs or pay off your value bets.

Check-out my 66 Days of Hand Reading Challenge on YouTube.

The Power of Suited Hands Post-flop (21:50)

Suited hands have more equity pre-flop than off-suit hands.  For example, T9s has 3.5% more equity than T9o vs a 20% opening range.

Both of these hands can flop a TP hand.  For example, on the Ts5h3h, Th9h (TP+fd) has 73% equity.  The Td9c (TP) only has 57% equity on this flop.  There’s a 16% equity swing here.

Suited hands are much, much better!  Play ‘em!

Challenge (23:50)

Here’s my challenge to you for this episode:  Find your own post-flop biggest leak and make a plan to fix it.  Maybe you hardly ever Cbet or maybe you donk bet too often when you don’t know what to do. Maybe you call every river or maybe you’re constantly getting your triple-barrel bluffs called by 2^nd pair!  Take the time to dig through your database to find this leak, then make a plan to fix it with a full week of study.  Also, don’t forget to focus on this during each session you play.  The only way to fix a leak is with hard work, so get on it.  Turn that leak into a chip accumulating skill.

Now it’s your turn to take action and do something positive for your poker game.

Support the Show

Raymond Bowker and Jim Cooke both decided to UP their online game by purchasing my Smart HUD for PokerTracker 4.  Use it to whip your opponents into submission, Ray and Jim!  Get the Smart HUD here.

Webinars are the new way to learn, and Eric Stewart and Steven Bell took advantage of a great deal I had on my ‘How to Study Poker Webinar'.  Thanks much, fellas.  And, Paulo Gaiotto, Jim, Eric and Iakovos all purchased the ‘Getting the Most From PokerTracker 4 Webinar'.  There are some serious improvements going on with these poker peeps, and for your sake, I hope you don't have to face them at the tables any time soon.  Thanks, all!