1
You are on the Button with A♠ J♣. Everyone folds to you.
What do you do and why?
“I open-raise. I’m on the Button, so I have position on everyone. AJo is strong enough to raise for value and to take control of the hand. I expect worse hands to call and better hands to 3-bet.”
You raise preflop, Big Blind calls.
Flop: K♦ 7♣ 2♠
You have Q♣ J♣
Do you c-bet or check? Why?
“I usually c-bet small. This board favors my range as the preflop raiser. Even though I missed, I still have range advantage and can fold out hands like 8-8, 9-9, or random floats.”
What is the main advantage of playing in position?
“Acting last gives me more information and control. I can make better decisions, control pot size, and put pressure on opponents when they show weakness.”
You have top pair weak kicker.
Opponent bets big on the river.
What are you thinking before deciding?
“I’m thinking about opponent’s range, what value hands they represent, and whether they bluff enough. I compare how many worse hands bet vs better hands. If mostly better → fold. If enough bluffs → call.”
What’s the difference between:
Give a real example.
“Value betting is when worse hands call (e.g., betting top pair vs weaker pairs). Bluffing is when better hands fold (e.g., missed draw betting to fold out a weak pair).”
Opponent folds too much to continuation bets.
How do you adjust?
“I increase my bluff frequency, especially in spots like c-bets and turn barrels, because I can profit from their folds.”
You flop a flush draw.
When do you:
“I play aggressively when I have fold equity and can win immediately or build the pot. I play passively when I lack fold equity or want to realize my equity cheaply.”
What does it mean to think in ranges, not hands?
“I don’t put opponent on one hand. I assign a range of possible hands and make decisions based on how my hand performs against that entire range.”
Flop: A♠ K♦ 5♣
You are the preflop raiser.
Why is this board good or bad for you?
“This board strongly favors the preflop raiser because I have more Ax and strong broadway hands. I have range and nut advantage, so I can c-bet frequently.”
What is the difference between:
“Range advantage means I have more strong hands overall. Nut advantage means I have more of the best possible hands. They influence betting frequency and sizing.”
When should you use a small bet vs a large bet?
“Small bets when I have range advantage and want to bet frequently. Large bets when the board is polarized or I want to pressure capped ranges.”
You c-bet flop and get called.
Turn changes nothing.
When do you fire again?
“I continue betting when the turn improves my perceived range, gives me equity, or puts pressure on capped ranges. I give up when none of those apply.”
What makes a hand a good bluff candidate?
“Hands with little showdown value, good blockers, and potential to improve or represent strong hands.”
What is equity realization in simple terms?
“It’s how much of my hand’s equity I can actually realize given position and action. Some hands look strong but can’t realize equity well.”
You call flop with a weak hand planning to bluff later.
What is this called and when is it good?
“This is floating. It’s good when opponent c-bets too much and gives up later, allowing me to take the pot on turn or river.”
How do you adjust vs:
“Vs tight players: bluff more, value bet thinner.
Vs loose players: value bet more, bluff less.”
When is it better to check a strong hand instead of betting?
“I check to induce bluffs, control pot, or protect my checking range so I’m not always weak when I check.”
What is a bluff catcher?
“A hand that beats bluffs but loses to value. It doesn’t bet for value but can call if opponent is bluffing enough.”
How do you decide if your hand is a call or fold on the river?
“I compare opponent’s value combos vs bluff combos. If bluffs are enough → call. If value dominates → fold.”
You are in the Big Blind with K♠ T♠.
Button raises. You call.
Flop: T♦ 6♣ 2♠
What is your plan and why?
“I check to the preflop raiser. I have top pair, decent kicker.
If they c-bet:
If they check back:
Overall, I’m playing a controlled pot, keeping worse hands in and avoiding overplaying my hand.”
Opponent is clearly unbalanced (too aggressive).
How do you exploit them without becoming exploitable?
“I adjust to their mistake (e.g., call more vs overbluffing) but stay aware so I don’t become predictable myself.”
Walk me through how you think about a hand from:
preflop → flop → turn → river
(no shortcuts)
“Preflop: assign ranges.
Flop: evaluate range interaction and board texture.
Turn: adjust based on equity shifts and pressure.
River: decide based on value vs bluff ratios and opponent tendencies.”
What are blockers, and why do they matter?
“Blockers reduce the number of strong hands opponent can have. For example, holding an Ace reduces chances they have top pair or nut flush.”
You raise preflop with A♣ Q♣.
Big Blind calls.
Flop: Q♦ 8♠ 4♣ → you c-bet, they call.
Turn: 9♠
Do you bet again or check? Why?
“I usually bet again.
I still have a strong value hand (top pair good kicker). The turn doesn’t drastically change things.
I get value from:
Also, I deny equity from hands that picked up draws.
However, I stay aware:
Default: value bet with protection.”
You hold K♣ Q♣.
Board:
Q♦ 9♠ 5♣ 2♥ 2♠
You bet flop, bet turn, and now face a large river raise.
What are you thinking?
“I recognize my hand is now a bluff catcher.
I beat bluffs but lose to value like:
Now I think in combinations:
Key factors:
If:
So the decision is not about my hand strength — it’s about their range composition and tendencies.”