Blocking bet
A blocking bet is a kind of bet that is quite small in size, however can go a long way by blocking an otherwise larger bet to be placed by another player. The blocking bet is normally called into play by a player who is out-of-position, i.e. not the last to act, during the river. This ensures that if a player checks an opponent into position, then s/he has to worry about two things.
Firstly, the opponent, who is now in position, may make a bet that may be large enough to force you to call with a losing hand. The other situation arises when the opponent’s large bet forces the player to fold, thus giving up on an otherwise winning hand.
To counter this exact situation, the blocking bet comes into play. By placing a smaller bet, the player can force the opponent into considering a situation where your hand might be stronger. In such a scenario, the opponent is being informed that your small bet is an indication of your confidence in the hand. This ensures that while you make a smaller bet, say 1/4th of the pot, your opponent, if s/he calls with a bigger bet and better cards, then you stand to lose lesser money.
In a round where the pot has reached $100 on the river, a player may choose to place a small bet of $10. This is normally an indication that the player is looking for a cheap showdown. This also acts as a deterrent to a bluff or larger bet that would have been placed by the opponent otherwise. If the player, instead of placing the blocking bet, decides to check, the opponent may bet up to $100 creating a dilemma of either playing or folding.
After placing the blocking bet, the opponent may choose to call on the lower bet amount or raise it further. This is a major indication of the cards the opponent holds and thus a blocking bet is not just used to block larger bets, but also bluffs.
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