Block betting in poker, particularly in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), remains an underexplored yet potent strategy that can significantly alter the dynamics of the game. Many poker players, including seasoned professionals, often overlook the conceptual foundation behind block betting, resorting to it merely on instinct or by mimicking others. This article aims to shed light on the concept of block betting, its strategic importance, and how employing it proficiently can enhance your PLO game.

What is Block Betting?

A block bet represents a small bet size, usually between 20-30% of the pot, made out of position on the river. The common reasoning behind this bet is to discourage your opponent from making a large bet on the river. While this holds some truth, the concept of block betting goes beyond this basic understanding. This poker guide aims to outline the wider context surrounding block betting in PLO.

Why Do We Block Bet?

When We Have Depolarized Betting Ranges

The more bets that go into the pot over multiple streets, the narrower the ranges get, leading to the classic polar vs. bluff-catcher scenario. This situation is a prime example of when a large, pot-sized bet is warranted to maximize value from strong hands, and exert substantial pressure on your opponent's bluff catcher.

However, in instances where fewer bets find their way to the middle, for example when the turn goes check / check, resulting in more mixed or depolarized ranges, a window of opportunity emerges for block bets to become a compelling strategy for the out of position player. These smaller bets serve to pressurize weak hands and extract thin value against the weaker calling hands of villain's range.

Learn more about polarized / depolarized ranges here.

We Can Manipulate Our Range

In poker games, having a blend of bets and checks in our range is crucial. The hands that we opt to bet impact our checking range. Similarly, the sizing we choose affects the frequency and strength of our betting range. The strength of our checking range, in turn, influences the decisions that the in-position player will make. If our checking range is overly robust, in-position checks back frequently, meaning less value for the top of our range. Conversely, a weaker range leaves us susceptible to attacks from thin value bets and bluffs.

Employing a block bet aids in modifying our checking range at a low cost, establishing an additional node that our opponent has to contend with, setting the stage for our subsequent reason to block bet.

Creating Opponent Indifference

When out of position, the goal is to make villain's bluffs indifferent between bluffing and checking, while concurrently keeping his value bets indifferent between varying sizings. In essence, we require hands capable of calling each bet size at appropriate frequencies.

As villain becomes depolarized and we execute a block bet, numerous hands are presented with a favorable price to call, yet also a tempting price to bluff raise, putting villain into a challenging decision. We've also tweaked our checking range, causing villain to remain indifferent between folding, bluff catching, bluff raising, and merely checking back with marginal hands.

Make it More Expensive For Our Opponent to Bluff

If we check to our opponent he can make a pot sized bluff at the pot getting a price of 1:1, risking $100 to win $100 for example, this means his bluff needs to work at least 50% of the time. However if we make a 33% block bet, and villain wants to make a pot sized bluff, he now needs to risk $200 to win $133, which means his bluff now needs to work 60% of the time.

On top of this, when we bet small for value, which we will do sometimes, and we jam over this raise we get a better price on our bluffs, but more importantly give villain a better price to call vs. if we just check / raised the river with our value hands.

When to Use a Block Bet?

1. When you are out of position on the river – as mentioned this is always the case when using a block bet

2. Your hand is likely, but not certainly, best

3. To bluff cheaply targeting opponents missed draws

4. To value bet thinly

5. When you depolarized your range by checking the turn

6. When you had a polarized line, but the board changed on the river

Conclusion

Mastering the nuances of block betting in poker, especially in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), can significantly improve your poker game. This strategy, while subtle, can impact the outcome of poker win-rates immensely. Understanding when and how to implement block betting not only showcases an advanced understanding of poker but also positions you a step ahead of adversaries. As you continue to learn poker and engage in advanced poker training, integrating strategies like block betting is paramount.

Our PLO coaching and poker training resources are tailored to impart profound understanding and practical skills essential for thriving in the competitive world of PLO poker. This article barely scratches the surface, and there's a treasure trove of poker tips and strategies awaiting in our Pot Limit Omaha coaching segments.