One of the most common things I get asked is about bet sizing, bet frequency and board textures. I have developed three simple questions to help you get a handle on how often you should bet when it is checked to you as the preflop raiser:

1. How high is the highest card
2. How close together are the cards?
3. How many cards are of the same suit?

When the highest card is high, that will typically bring down the bet size and increase the betting frequency. The same is true when the cards are not close together. The two are related, as it’s harder to get two cards close to a King compared to an 8, for example.

We bet small and often on boards like, for example, A82, because it’s hard for your opponent to have anything.

Compare that to a more connected flop like 873. On this flop, there are now straight draws and gutshots possible.

This will typically bring down your betting frequency, because you can’t expect your opponent to fold as often.

Make the board a flush draw too, and that brings in even more hands that will not go away to your bet, so we should see more checking on flush draw flops. When the flop is monotone, frequency will decrease even further. More hands will have flush draws in them on these flops, and you might be betting into a made flush.

It all comes down to fold equity. Fold equity is high when flops are high and/or disconnected. It is lower when the cards are close together, bringing in straight draws, and even lower when flush draws come into the mix.

If you want to learn more about bet sizing and board textures, I have recently put together a free video on the topic, which you get after you join my mailing list.