ITH Poker Forum

[Wynton]

Hey Piemaster,

If I may interject (which evidently I can), I don't think there is one type of donk-better out there. In fact, one of the most important notes I take on people concerns their donk-betting, both on the flop and on later streets.

On the flop, I write down whether they donk with air just to test the pf raiser, or at least have a draw.
On the river, I make sure to note whether they donk when a scare card comes, whether they do so on a bluff or whether it means they have a real hand.

Also, I think it's important to note your own image when it comes to responding to donk bets. If you folded the last flop when someone donked you, I'd be a lot more likely to recommend a call or raise. And keep in mind that a TAGish image could make some people more willing to take shots at you by donk-betting.

Bottom line is that I do not believe you can adopt one particular strategy to deal with donk-betters.

[darvon]

Can we define a donk bet again?

[Wynton]

Donk bet is usually defined as someone who leads the betting on one street after not taking the last bet or raise on the prior street.

[stripes]

I wouldn't call a flop bet a donk bet. From how I've seen that term used, I think it applies more to the turn.

If I'm an early player raising and being reraised by a late player PF, then betting a flop I like shakes things up a bit from trying to checkraise the "inevitable" flop bet.

Especially if I like the flop and it's draw-heavy: I may get raised but I bet with the intent to re-raise. More money in the pot and a clear signal to my opponent that he won't get to continue cheap.

("flop I like" in this context means more like a flop I think my opponent doesn't like, like a rag flop: if he has an overpair, he'll let me know by capping and I can plan accordingly. If he shuts down I can say with some reliability he's on loose high cards and (at my level) will frequently draw to the turn or river before giving up. What I have is irrelevant in these cases.)

Now, as for the <i>turn</i> bet out-of-turn by an early player I've made passive: has the board filled a dangerous draw that my opponent fears I will check behind, like 4-straight or 4-flush? The "Donk-betting" trait, and what it means, is very player-dependent. Some players are very straightforward and will donkbet their made hand (a pair of some kind on the flop or turn, or a filled draw). Once identified, these people make for an easy fold if I'm weak. Others will bluff bet the turn, because it's cheaper than bluff-checkraising and they've discovered that checkraising often provokes a calldown. They are easy as well: fold to a checkraise, raise a donkbet and lead the river if they call.

I love 6-max limit. The instinct I've acquired in it interferes with my full-table game a bit, but I'm doing the best when I'm the most aggressive player at the table.