Dear Professor Poker,

I hate it when they raise my big blind. I'd like to defend, but I don't want to get trapped with a crappy hand like 9-4. Can you give me any strategies for making them back off my big blind?

Big Blind

Dear Big,

You can, of course, re-raise when they raise your big blind, although smart players will notice if you do that just because you're aggravated, or tired of being bullied, and punish you accordingly. Try this instead. Just call the raise, and then bet out on any ragged flop. Since you're in the blind, you're more likely to be holding the sort of hand that a ragged flop hits. Many opponents, respecting the randomness of your blind hand, will fold if you bet into that unconnected flop.

The key to success with this strategy is being prepared to bet (and continue betting) as if you'd actually hit your hand. Of course your goal is to win the pot, but even if you don't, you teach your opponent that you'll get frisky with him when he attacks your blind. You train him not to do that. In the best of all possible worlds, you call a raise with that 9-4, hit your flop, win the pot, and reveal that you'll "defend with anything," and get them to back off for good. Try it and see!

Dear Professor Poker,

I have a friend who says, "Always bet the river." To me that seems reckless. Better hands could be just waiting in the weeds. But I must confess that my friend has some success with that strategy. Can you tell me why?

Checker

Dear Checker,

When you bet the river, you create the possibility of two good outcomes. One is that you might actually win the pot with the best hand. The other, of course, is that every one else might fold, giving you an uncontested win. When you check (or check and then call) you give yourself the chance to win only by the kosher method of actually having the goods.

You must bet the river in order to get your share of those uncontested wins. Plus there's this: If your opponents know that you're the sort of player who will bet a hand all the way down, they're less likely to tangle with you in the first place, but if they know you back off on the end, they'll not only call you before the river, they'll bet into you on the river just to see you squirm.

In winning poker it's all about being the boss of the table, the one player that all the other players respect and, let's face it, fear. Betting the river (even sometimes when you know you're beat) helps cement your reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Look at it this way: If the pot is sufficiently big, you know you're going to call any bet... it would be a mistake not to. So why not lead the parade and give your opponents the chance to make that mistake? Sometimes they might. And yes it's true that sometimes they'll actually have a better hand and even re-raise you, costing you money. But if you're that afraid of being re-raised, or getting beaten, or of losing your money, you really don't have the right mind-set for poker in the first place. Be aggressive to win. It's as simple as that.

Got one for the prof? Send it to John Vorhaus

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