The blocking bet is a bet on the flop that is to oppose an opponent who made a call (raise) in preflop. This is a great way to deal with an experienced player. For example, you start the game as the small blind, the player Under The Gun (UTG) and UTG +1 (the second player after the blinds) withdraw, a player names 4 times in a row.
I invite everyone to re-retire and that you have the following cards: 8 of Spades – 8 of hearts
The pair of 8 has a 68% chance to win in a duel. If draws the bet and the big blind player retires, you’ll find yourself in a duel with what made the re-invitation.
The flop: 10 of Clubs – 7 of Spades – 2 of hearts.
You’re the first to play. What will actually happen? Your pair of 8 is a completely hand made. However, since you do not know the cards of your opponent, you will quickly study the possibilities: any pair made more than 8 beats you, if your opponent has a 10 you have already made the couple. Instead, the flop has no immediate possibility of color or flush draw. It may be that you have at your disposal a 8-9 that will allow you to make a draw of scale. But raise preflop with 8-9 is quite impossible.
Can therefore be concluded that the opponent has cards greater than 8-9, namely 10 (the type KQ, AJ, QJ) or a same pair. In this type of situation, the only way to know is to proceed with a blocking bet and take advantage of your call preflop.
So you decide to bet at the pot. Your opponent thought for a moment and follows you. Since then, the situation is alarming and you wonder if he has a better hand than yours.
The turn: 5 of diamonds.
So you decide to aim to assess the value of the cards held in your opponent (he can easily place a backdoor straight draw of the flop-called backdoor the situation where the missing two cards to complete a straight or a flush). Points then 75% of the pot. Your opponent reflects and eventually retires.
This is a real case of blocking bet in a live tournament. The player had combined AJ (Ace of Pentacles – J of diamonds). He was actually a backdoor straight draw to.
The stakes in the blocking bet you have allowed to take away the pot in front of a poker player aggressive preflop, but eventually lost the match. However, you have to be careful because if the opponent had followed the turn, it would be difficult for you to win in the river, because everything would be inclined to think that if the opponent took advantage of you. As you can see, you have to move with leaden feet with this type of bet.
