Tampa Bay Poker Group

Calling a raise preflop generally means facing a C bet. Whether you've hit the flop or not, and whether the PF raiser hit the flop or not, the C bet is often.. check that LIKELY.. going to be there. Consideration must be given to the size of the bet in relation to the pot, to decide whether to continue or fold, and whether or not you feel the PF raiser is capable of slowing down on the turn. Point is, expect it. Now what.

Here's what I've found has worked with good success, both online and live, AJ games excluded (since no one slows down, ever! lol):

Bluff situation: You are in MP with average stack, SNG, MTT, (even HU), all seem to qualify. EP raises between 2x - 4x BB, and you call with a speculative hand like 89 suited, TJ suited, or baby pair (under 7's). Flop: . We've seen flops like this a million times, ragged, fear only the ace... there may be 3 players seeing the flop, maybe 4, so be careful as this can change the situation drastically if more than 4 (so let's use 3 players total to the flop in this scenario). EP (often BB) checks, PF raiser (UTG or UTG + 1?) C-bets 1/2 pot or less (this seems to be fairly standard as not very often the C bet is 2/3rds pot or higher). You CALL, BB folds, let's see the turn. Perhaps something like . PF raiser checks! It seems MOST OF THE TIME if the c-bet continues with a CHECK on the turn he is conceding the pot, and telling you he doesn't have an ace! A 2/3rd pot bet here wins the pot maybe 80%? PF raiser believes YOU have an ace, since you called the flop which included an ace!

this is my experience, whether you hit or not, as long as you have position on the PF raiser, EXPECT the c-bet, smooth call, and if they CHECK on the turn, your confident bet will often win the pot (holding any two cards!!!).