Block party

A blocking bet is a bet you place out on the river, when you are first to act. The purpose of a blocking bet – otherwise referred to as a ‘stopper bet’ – is twofold. It enables you to minimise your losses in a hand; and it prevents you from getting bluffed out of the hand.

As a cash game specialist, a blocking bet is something I use continuously. Any good cash game player will tell you their primary purpose at the table is to maximise their gains (when ahead) and minimise their losses (when behind).

A blocking bet is often misinterpreted as a value bet and will result in a no-raise 70% of the time and a fold 30% of the time (assuming you have a solid table image). So even when your blocking bet is called and you lose, you still capture significant value from it; far more so than if you permitted your opponent to take the lead in the betting.

If you are trying to stop yourself being bluffed out of the pot, a blocking bet offers the same 3/1 protection, as your bet will be viewed as strength as well as a commitment to the pot. Let’s explore the benefits of the blocking bet in more detail.

MINIMISING LOSSES

You have Jacks up with a 10 kicker. Not a bad hand but a beatable hand. As you are first to act, you place a bet on the river of about one-quarter to one-third the pot.

The purpose of this aggression is to prevent your opponent from placing a much larger bet after you check on the river – a bet that you may be tempted to call, even though you may be behind. By being the aggressor out of position, you put the pressure on your opponent. He is not likely to raise with a hand like K-Q or even Q-J, hands that clearly dominate you.

The texture of the board also helps you a great deal as the board did pair on the river. Unless he is holding a deuce he has to proceed with caution. The only logical raise here would come from an opponent playing Q-Q, J-J, 9-9 or A-2. Your opponent calls the bet and wins the pot with Q♠-J♣ but by being the aggressor, you should enjoy as much as a 70% discount on the river as a result of the blocking bet you made.

Example two shows a dangerous board for you, even though you made your set. That being said, it can easily pose the same amount of danger to your opponent. With a four straight on the board as well as a flush that developed on the river, there are endless hands that can cripple your set. You lead out of the river and place a bet (comparable to the previous example) of about one-third of the pot.

Unless your opponent was playing A♥-K♥ it will be very difficult for him to raise your bet. Even if he had the nut straight, you could very easily have been on the heart flush draw and made your hand on the river. Over 90% of the time, with this type of board, your opponent will simply call. Your opponent does in fact call with A♥-Q♣ and you win the pot.

BLOCKING A BLUFF

In example three, even though you flopped mid-set and properly bet your hand, your opponent did not go away. He’s a difficult opponent to read, as he has been very aggressive throughout. It’s possible that he may well have hit the flop hard, but then again, he could be just setting up a play to take the hand away on the turn or the river. As we get to the river a danger card has hit the board. Not only does the K♥ complete a flush, it also gives a second straight to anyone playing A-Q or Q-9. This is the perfect opportunity to implement a blocking bet.

With this type of aggressive player you have no other option, if you intend to show your hand down, other than to bet. If you check you are guaranteed that your opponent will bet out. And, with the texture of this board, it will put you to the test and you will have a very difficult decision to make with your set. The only way I check here is only if I intend to check-raise. If I want to prevent a bluff that I may not be able to call I will simply bet out a respectable sum: about half to three-quarters the pot.

I will most likely be viewed by my opponent as a conservative player, especially in comparison to his aggressive behaviour, and my bet will be taken seriously.

In example four, you have been the aggressor throughout the hand. Your opponent has called you all the way down to the river. The 10♦ is not a good card for you. It poses a significant danger as it completes a straight with any Queen as well as increasing the possibility of someone making two-pair with a hand like J-10 and 10-9 that may have stayed in on the flop. If you check here, be certain that you will be put to the test and face a tough decision.

A pot-sized bet from your opponent will give you 2/1 odds if you make the call. And, with second pair/top kicker you need a lot better odds than that to call this board. Unless you are prepared to immediately lay the hand down, you must implement a blocking bet in this scenario. You place out a bet of two-thirds the pot. After going into the tank for a while, your opponent folds and you take down the pot.

AVOIDING CONFUSION

It is very important that I point out that you should not confuse a blocking bet with a bluff or a value bet. They are three completely different strategies in your arsenal. A bluff or semi-bluff on the river is a bet you place when you are convinced you could not win a showdown. As such you want to discourage action and take down the pot. In a value bet you are convinced that you have the best hand and want to encourage a caller, most preferably a raise, so that you may maximise on the value of your hand.

A blocking bet is just that – a bet that ‘blocks’ your opponent from firing out at you and putting you to the test. Whether you are trying to minimise your losses on the river or prevent yourself from being bluffed out of the pot when you think you have the best hand, err on the side of aggression and fire out a blocking bet.