Understanding Bet Sizing (Poker and More!)

You’re headed to the casino, and planning to play some poker, but what size bets should you place? Did you know there is actually a general rule of thumb for bet sizing?

The rule of thumb is never to bet more than 5% of your bankroll on a single hand or slot bet, but for poker players, bet sizing goes much deeper. Read on so you can understand bet sizing as it applies to poker and all games on the casino floor.

General Rule of Bet Sizing

The general rule of bet sizing, as it applies to bankroll management, is never to bet more than 5% of your bankroll on a single hand or spin. This means if your bankroll is $100, you should be playing blackjack for $5 per hand or less.

While this general rule is great for pretty much every game you can find at the casino, the only place it doesn’t tend to apply is poker. Below, we dive into bet sizing while playing poker.

Bet Sizing in Poker

Before we begin, known that bet sizing in poker is a complicated subject, and there are many variables. While we will provide you with some general information, it’s important to note that how you size bets should change based on the type of poker you are playing, the pot size, the other players at the table, and the cards you have in your hand.

1. Cash Game or Tournament?

In a cash game, your bet will be based on the pot size, with common bets comprising of half the pot up to the full value of the pot. In a tournament, bets are kept more conservative and based more on the blinds and antes.

That being said, the general rule for sizing bets in poker is to bet enough that the other players face a tough decision, but not so much that your stack is at risk.

2. Do You Have a Good Hand?

If you have a decent or good hand, then bluffing comes into play. You should be evaluating the other players for bluffs, as well as your ability to bluff. If you don’t have a good hand at all, it’s usually better just to fold.

3. Who Are You Playing With?

Poker is always easier when you know the skill level and experience of the other players. If you are playing with strangers, it will be more difficult to properly size your bets. It’s important to note that bet sizing is critical when you bluff. If you always bet the same amount and suddenly increase, then other players know you likely have something good. As such, you should vary your bet size from time to time to ensure you aren’t a predictable player.

4. When in Doubt, Use the 33% C-Bet

A C-bet is known as a continuation bet, with the percentage (33%) referring to the pot. Basically, when you aren’t sure what to bet, it is best to start with a 33% C-Bet. As we mentioned above, all players need to have a bet variance to keep their bluffing strong. Most professional players have a base betting range of 33%-75%, depending on the variables we mentioned, but in any case, 33% is where most players start.

5. Think Ahead

Even if you have the best hand, you need to think ahead about what is coming. You know you’re going all-in, but it’s better to let the game run its course, going in at the last possible moment. This way you can better bluff to the other players.

Even if you don’t have the nuts (but have a decent hand), you need to consider what you have in your stack when you place your first bet on the hand. If you don’t know where to start, we recommend the 33% C-Bet as we mentioned above, which gives you ample room to increase your bet later without cluing the other players in to your plan.

This is a very basic overview of poker bet sizing. If you are truly interested in becoming a professional poker player, we recommend watching videos and taking masterclasses on how to size bets, as it is a skill and takes far more knowledge than what we mentioned here—this was just a basic intro for the uninformed social player. If you are not a skilled player, reference our poker rooms by player skill level to find out some of the best places to play in Las Vegas.

Other Poker Tips for Beginner Players:

1. Don’t Bet Big

While you’re still learning, play conservatively, even if you think you have a good hand. This is out of caution, because while you might have a good hand, you also may not have as good of a hand as you thought, which isn’t a big deal when you’re betting small.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

The only way to truly get better at poker is to practice, and we don’t recommend practicing in a live poker room—as they tend to be unforgiving. We recommend practicing in an online poker room with small bets. If online poker isn’t legal where you live, then even a digital poker game (for play money) can help you practice until you are able to play in a brick-and-mortar casino.

3. Watch Others Play

As we mentioned earlier, a huge aspect of being a successful poker player is being able to read the other players at the table. Your bet size, the chance of winning or losing, it all depends on the other players—not just the cards. We recommend just watching live gameplay, such as on TV or a streaming service. It’s even better if you can watch on Twitch with commentary, anything to learn what signs to watch for when it comes to other players.

**It may be worthwhile to take a behavioral class or two, so you can learn more about psychology and the signs that someone is lying/bluffing.