Poker pot control: how and when to control a pot with medium strength hands

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When playing poker, especially in the format of tournaments, one of the key strategies is pot control. This is a tactic that is used in situations where the equity of our hand against the opponent's range is approximately 30% to 55%. Understanding and correctly using this strategy contributes to more efficient bankroll management and profit maximization on post-flop.

1. Objective of the pot control strategy

The purpose of the pot control is to reach the showdown in a small pot. This means that the player seeks to control the size of the pot and minimize his losses if his hand turns out to be weaker than the opponent's combination.

Common mistakes:

1. Turning a pot-control situation into a bluff as a bluff. 
   One of the main mistakes is to use pot control as a bluff. The pot control is designed to protect its stack, not the bluff. Using this strategy as a bluff can lead to unnecessary losses of chips or a decrease in profits.
2. No defensive bet:
   Players often forget to place defensive bet when applying pot control. Protective bet helps to maintain control over the pot and protect against the opponent's bluff.
3. No fine picks. 
   It is important to be able to make fine picks when using pot control. This helps to maximize profits from strong hands and minimize losses from weak hands.

Using pot control requires a good understanding of the situation at the game table and the ability to make quick and correct decisions. 

2. When to apply the concept of pot control

Applying the concept of pot control is especially useful in situations where the equity of our hand against the range of the opponent is in the region of 30-55%. This often happens when playing with medium strength hands, when it is not very clear whether we are ahead or behind, and there is a risk of losing in case of active participation in the hand. 

3. Types of postflop pot control

Depending on the situation (the strength of the hand, the structure of the flop and ranauts coming out on the next streets, positioning in the distribution, the size of the stacks, etc.), pot control can be divided into different types, which we will analyze in more detail.

Completely passive post-flop

The goal of this strategy is to reach the showdown in the smallest possible pot. This means that the player avoids active play and prefers to control the size of the pot, minimizing their losses in the hand. When using a completely passive approach, the player most often prefers to simply call the opponent's bet, avoiding his own bet in order not to inflate the pot. He seeks to reach the showdown for the minimum amount of bet, realizing that his hand may be weaker than his opponent's and is not worth further investment of chips in the hand. It is important to monitor the size of the opponent's bet sized. If the bet is too large (1/2 or 2/3 of the pot and more), then we, having assessed the equity in our hand, can decide to abandon the fight for the pot and fold the cards. Such situations will be rare, and it is important to choose a more profitable option for the draw.

• As preflop aggressor - Check - check (call) – check (call / fold) (IP OOP)

The line "Check - check (call) – check (call / fold) (IP OOP)" includes showing the weakness of our hand with an artificial check to provoke a weaker bet range on the part of the opponent and possibly get chips from hands that are in his range, but weaker than ours. When we use this technique, we demonstrate that we are not strong and ready for a call, which can force the opponent to make a bet with hands that he would not be ready to bet with our active aggression. The edge of this strategy is that we are ready to call two subsequent bet, if necessary. However, it is important to consider the type of opponent: some players will not react aggressively without a strong hand and may not even try to attack our check. In such cases, our pot control can become a burden and cause problems.

• As preflop caller - Call – call / fold – call / fold (IP OOP)

If the player was a preflop collector, he can also use a completely passive approach on the postflop. In this case, he calls the opponent's bet, but does not bet himself. Depending on the strength of his sweat-controlled hand, he may decide to discard cards on one of the streets or walk to the showdown, also trying to minimize his investment in the pot. These strategies allow the player to maintain control over the size of the pot and make more informed decisions on different streets, depending on the situation and the strength of his hand.

Protection sweat control

Protection sweat control in poker is a strategy game aimed at protecting your hand and maximizing profits in the presence of hands of medium strength or hands with the potential to improve on subsequent streets. The main idea is to control the size of the pot and manage the progress of the game in order to preserve the initiative and minimize risks.

Objectives of protective sweat control include:

The goals of defensive pot control in poker are very important for the formation of a successful strategy of the game. 

Let's take a closer look at each of them:

Walk to the showdown in a small pot.
This objective is related to bank size control and risk management pot. Showdown is the moment when players who have not left the game open their cards and the winner is determined.

Prevent the opponent from taking the initiative. 
In poker, initiative often plays a key role. By holding it in our hands, we control the course of events and can dictate the terms of the game. Loss of initiative can lead to loss of control over the development of the situation and negative consequences for our game. The purpose of defensive sweat control is to preserve this initiative and prevent its interception by the opponent.

Don't give your opponent free cards. 
Free cards can give an opponent the opportunity to improve their hand, which can negatively affect our chances of winning.

Collect a fine vellya. 
A value is an additional profit that we can extract from the hand by having a stronger hand than our opponents.

Realize these goals requires careful analysis of the situation, strategic thinking and the ability to adapt to the course of the game. Understanding and using protective sweat control in poker helps the player to effectively manage risks, protect their interests and maximize profits from each trade.

• As preflop aggressor
  
  Bet 35% - Bet 35% - check (IP)
  We make small bet bets to confuse the opponent and stop attempts to knock us out of the pot, while subtly getting worse from the draw of the opponent.
  
  Check - bet 50% - check (IP)
  We make a delayed cbet for selection from the hands of worse and protection and take a free showdown.
  
  Bet 35% - check – call / fold, bet 35% / check (IP)
  We put a small one on the flop to get to the river cheaply. 

On the river, depending on the situation, we decide:

1.   Call or fold if the opponent puts it himself.
2. Thin collecting of value or check if the opponent is checks.

When using this strategy, it is important to consider your opponent's style of play at the table. For example, luzovo-passive players are rarely able to bluff as a bluff on the river and, therefore, their bet on the river is likely to have a strong hand. In such cases, our call in response to the opponent's bet can almost always lead to a loss. It is also important to analyze the dynamics of the game and the previous actions of the opponent in order to make a more informed decision on the river. For example, if an opponent made continued bet on previous streets, his check on the river may indicate weakness, and this may be a good opportunity for fine selection or bluff on our part.

• As preflop caller
  
  Bet 35% - Bet 35% - check (IP)
  We protect ourselves from possible weak draw and overcards of the opponent, which he took to the check. We take a free autopsy on the river.
  
  Check - bet 50% - check / bet 35% (IP OOP)
  We protect ourselves from possible draw and overcards and other equity. On the river, we decide whether there is a thin collecting of value with our pot control or not.
  
  Bet 35% - check – fold / call, bet 35% / check (IP)
  We put the bet on the flop in the missed cbet to protect against the equity of the opponent and not to give free cards. In the future, in response to a bet, we can make a call or fold, depending on the situation. If the villain is checks, we decide whether we have a thin collecting of value.

Control of a pot without a position

Your decision in situations requiring bank control without a position should be based on how to optimally manage the size of the bank sized pot to maximize your chances of success and minimize losses. 

Control of a pot without a position can be effective in the following situations:

1. Sophisticated boards: When the board has a complex card combination that creates numerous possible play options for opponents, controlling the pot can help you avoid too much loss if your hand becomes less profitable.
2. Passive opponents: If your opponents play passively and rarely bet, controlling the pot can help you control the pace of the game and maximize profits from stronger hands.
3. Complex opponents: Against strong and aggressive opponents who can easily disassemble your actions and put pressure on you, bank control can help you avoid unnecessary losses and reduce the risk of getting into difficult situations.

Bank control strategies without a position pot

Check/call. 
If you are unsure of the strength of your hand, a check and subsequent call of the opponent's bet may be a reasonable solution. This will allow you to control the size of the jar and minimize losses if your hand does not improve on the following streets.

Check/fold. 
If an opponent makes too much of a bet after your check and you do not have a strong hand or a prospect for improvement, a reasonable check and subsequent fold may be a reasonable solution. This will help you avoid unnecessary losses in difficult situations.

Blocking bet (blocking bets). 
Sometimes a small bet can help you control the size of the pot and avoid too much bet from opponents. It can also help you gain information about the strength of the opponent's hand and make a more informed decision on subsequent streets.

• As preflop aggressor - Bet 35% - bet 35% - check (fold/call) / bet 35% (OOP)

We make small bets in order to confuse the opponent and not provoke him to try to knock us out of the pot or go into the collecting of value with large bets, while subtly getting worse from pot-control hands and from the draw of the opponent. On the river, we decide on the optimal solution (put a blockbet, play a check-call or check-fold).

• As preflop caller - Check - bet 50% - check / bet 35% (IP OOP)

We protect ourselves from possible draw and overcards and other equity. On the river, we decide whether there is a thin collecting of value with our pot control or not. 

4. Selection of bet sizes for pot control

Pot control bet sizing plays a key role in optimizing your strategy and maximizing profits. 

Here are some important points to consider when choosing pot control bet sizes:

1. Stack size. Your bet size should be adapted to your stack size. If your stack is small, you can use smaller bet rates to control the pot to minimize the risk of loss. On the other hand, if you have a big stack, you can afford to make bigger bet to maximize profits.
2. The strength of your hand. The size of your bet can reflect the strength of your hand and your confidence in it. If you have a strong hand, you can place a larger bet to maximize profits. It is good to use against players you have marked as weak opponents. At the same time, if you have a weak hand, a smaller bet may be a reasonable choice for bank control.
3. Opponent Type: You should also consider the type of opponent when selecting a bet size. If you have information that your villain is inclined to play widely on small bet, then a very small bet may not work, since the opponent can make a wide re-raise.
4. Bet target: When choosing a bet size in pot control, it's also important to keep your target in mind. If your goal is to control the pot and minimize losses, then a smaller bet may be a suitable choice. However, if your goal is to maximize profits, then a larger bet may be a more effective way to achieve this goal.

Bet rates in pot-control banks are divided into blocking, standard and increased rates.

 10-20% - blocking bet

A blocking bet is a bet that ranges from 10% to 20% of the current size of the pot. This type of bet is often used in the pot control strategy, especially on the turn and river. It is designed to create some pressure on opponents by offering them an unfavorable price tag for participation in the pot, but at the same time keeping our initiative in the distribution. Often blocking bet is used in situations where we definitely do not have enough equity for larger bet, but we do not want to just wait, as this can lead to the fact that we will be forced to fold our hand on any activity of the opponent. 

This can be especially true in multi-pots, when 3-4 players are involved in the pot and a lot of chips have already accumulated. Using blocking bet, we control the size of the pot, prevent its further growth and keep the opportunity to participate in the draw. This type of bet can also be useful in creating more favorable conditions for further development of events on the river or, if necessary, extract additional information about the opponent's hand.

33-35% - standard protection bet

The standard protection bet is 33-35% of the current pot size. This bet size is widely used in a post-flop pot control strategy. He plays a key role in blocking the interception of the initiative by the opponent, protecting our hand from pressure, as well as selecting from the opponent's gatshots, backdoors and overcards. This type of bet is most often used on dry boards where there is little room for hand improvement, or on boards with weak potential for draw. The purpose of such a bet is to maintain control over the pot, to prevent its further growth without the need to risk a large number of chips. The standard protection bet helps us keep the initiative in the draw and makes it possible to continue the game in more favorable conditions for us, controlling the pace and size of bet in the game.

50-55% - increased protection bet

This bet size is usually used in situations where we want to protect our hand, but we are not going to bet on the next street. Also, this bet size can be justified when there is a high probability that our opponents have a draw hand, that is, a hand that can improve on the following streets. This bet size is especially useful in structures related to draw. Using an increased protective bet, we create pressure on opponents, offering them a disadvantageous price tag for improving their hand on the following streets. We also establish control over the course of the game, minimizing risks and retaining the opportunity to get the most out of the opponent's unprepared hands.

5. How to choose the optimal type of pot control for the situation

Choosing the optimal type of pot control for a particular situation depends on many factors, including the texture of the board, the style of the opponent's game, the size of the stacks, the position at the table and our own hand. 

Here are some key points to consider when choosing the right type of pot control:

1. Texture of the board. Consider how dry or dynamic (with draw) the flop is. Dry board, where there are few possible draw, may be an ideal place for a standard defensive bet, whereas dynamic board with a large number of possible draw combinations may require more active sweat control, such as an increased blocking bet.
2. Opponent's style of play. Consider how aggressive or passive your villain is. Against aggressive players, blocking bet can help control the pot and prevent unnecessary losses, while against more passive opponents, a standard protection bet can be more effective.
3. Stack size: If you or your opponents have small stacks, use a more conservative sweat control to avoid unnecessary risks and too much bet.
4. Position at the table. Playing in a position, you have more information about the actions of opponents and more opportunities to control the pot. This may allow you to play more aggressively or, conversely, more conservatively depending on the situation.
5. Your own hand. Evaluate the strength of your hand and the possibilities for improvement on the following streets. If you have a strong hand, you can choose more aggressive sweat control, while with weaker hands it may be preferable to use a defensive approach. 

Effect of Effective Stack Size Depth

The depth of the effective stack size plays an important role in poker pot control decisions. The more stacks you and your opponents have, the more opportunities to manipulate the pot and control the game pot. 

Here are some key points to consider when analyzing the effect of stack depth on pot control:

1. Large stacks: With deep stacks, you have more room to maneuver and use different sweat control strategies. You can afford more aggressive sweat control, including larger bet, knowing that you have enough chips to cover potential losses and create better fold equity.
2. Small stacks. On the contrary, with small stacks, your ability to maneuver becomes limited. In such situations, you may need a more conservative approach to pot control to avoid unnecessary risks and save your chips for more favorable situations.
3. The depth of the stack relative to the bank. It is also important to consider the depth of your stack relative to the size of the current pot. If your stack is smaller or comparable to the sized pot, you may need to be more careful and avoid unnecessary risks. You can opt out of pot control. Overall, the depth of the effective stack size has a significant impact on your pot control poker strategy. Understanding this influence will help you make more informed and effective decisions at the poker table.

6. Shortcomings of the pot control concept

While the concept of bank control is a powerful tool in the poker player's arsenal, it also has its drawbacks and limitations.  

Some of them include:

1. Loss of vellya. One of the main disadvantages of sweat control is the loss of a possible value of vellya, for example, in situations where the villain would simply called our larger bet on all the streets with weak hands. This can lead to missed opportunities to increase profits.
2. Vulnerability against aggressive opponents. Against thinking and aggressive opponents who can recognize the pot control and use it against you, the pot control strategy may be less effective. Such players can raising your blocking bet or conduct powerful bluff, which can create additional difficulties in managing the bank.
3. Difficulty in making decisions. Making decisions in pot control situations requires a good understanding of opponents' ranges, their playing styles, and current conditions. This can be a challenge for less experienced players and lead to errors in the analysis of the situation.

7. Conclusion

Despite its limitations, the concept of bank control remains an important tool in the arsenal of a poker player. Using pot control effectively can help you protect your chips, minimize losses, and maximize profits in a variety of poker table situations. However, it is important to remember that pot control is not a one-size-fits-all solution and should be applied taking into account the characteristics of each specific situation and the style of play of your opponents.