[vypremik]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just starting to play NL and have been wondering about the tactic of "betting the pot" to supposedly punish drawing hands.

Wouldn't someone on a straight or flush draw be getting the right odds to call (2 to 1)

Enlighten this NL rookie

[/ QUOTE ]

2 to 1 odds means that they will hit their hand one out of three times. If they have the odds to do this, calling a pot size bet will be a break-even bet for them.

You do have to keep in mind that the true odds are changed by such factors as other people still in the hand and more betting rounds to come.

Bascially you use pot odds for two things here

1) You want a new player to make a call they are not supposed to make (based on pot odds) so that you can make money in the long term.

2) You want a pro to make the correct call based on their hand and therefore have a good idea of what they hold or what they are drawing to.

By the way, there is a lot more to pot odds than just betting the pot. But for starters, it is good to know that you are usually causing your opponent to make a mistake calling your pot sized bet if they are drawing to a straight or flush. (Or you are making a mistake by doing the same.)