Pot sized donk bets

Napoleon54

Generally speaking I have read and found that flop donk bets tend to be weak top pairs and draws. I haven't really had anyone argue this point. I have made plenty of money raising these bets with ATC. However, I have really only ever done so when the donk bet was 1/2 pot or less (unless I have a real hand of course). Sometimes, however, we see pot sized, or nearly so, donk bets. My feeling is that these are usually top pair hands and I have not observed players willing to donk bet pot and then be willing to fold. As a result, my feeling is that a pot sized donk is top pair that the person is willing to call at least 2 streets. Is that what y'all have experienced? Am I giving pot sized donks too much respect?

karbyn

I find they are the ultimate protection bet. Like TP with good kicker, not a weak kicker. It isn't a probing bet, it's a protection bet. They are aren't trying to find out where they are, they assume they have the best hand but are afraid of being drawn out on. So they pot it.

the same tactics apply ... but you have to be deeper to push them off. And ofc have the right game/table/hand image etc.

persuadeo

I agree with Karbyn.

These three types of flop leads OOP all mean something entirely different: 1/2 pot donk bet from weak player, same thing from good player, and pot bet.

You're going to be entirely much more successful raising the first category off his hand.

Ed Miller

Yeah, pot-sized donks are usually pretty strong hands on draw-heavy boards.

ArtArtBobart

I rarely donk, but since I play with Napoleon, I may add bluff-donks to my aresnal :)

Seriously, I'm wondering if there may be value in bluff-donking with air on ace high/other boards against some thinking players with a regular opening range. I haven't seen this done, but if you balanced with stonger hands it seems you can pick up a lot a pots. I know if someone donks into my queens on an ace-high board I tend to fold/slow down.

Doug Hull

See chapter two of poker plays you can use:
Some players believe they are unlucky. Act as it it were true.

ArtArtBobart

Funny! I had forgotten that example in the book, but must have internalized it. I had even written the name of a player to try this move on :)

Napoleon54

It wasnt me was it?

Christian Soto

Doug Hull wrote:

See chapter two of poker plays you can use:
Some players believe they are unlucky. Act as it it were true.

lol nice plug! ;-)

ArtArtBobart

Napoleon...it wasn't you. His name starts with L and ends with S :)