Over Betting Versus Betting Just Enough

There is no need to over bet the pot. Get a pencil and a sticky note and write that down: "there is no need to over bet the pot." Underline it a few times and paste it to the monitor in which you play online poker. While it is certainly true that you often have to bet enough to elicit the reaction you want from your opponents, you can certainly bet too much - a mistake that, in the long run, will cost you more than you realize.

If your intention is to take a pot down with the next bet you make, it is important to assess exactly how much you need to bet to get your opponent to lay down his or her cards. Moving all in might certainly do it - but then again, you could have completely misread your opponent, who then calls you and sends you to the rail gnashing your teeth and cursing the heavens. If you determine that moving all in is the only way to get your opponent to lay down their cards, and this is the hill you want to die on, then by all means do so - but there's no need to risk your entire tournament life and all of your chips if risking half as much will get the same response.

For example, an online tournament in the middle, and you are one of the chip leaders. You have $1,200 and are holding pocket kings, hearts and spades, and the board brings Ah 3d 5c Jd. The pot stands at $400 thanks to your pre-flop and post flop raises, both of which were called by one player - the only player at the table that has you outchipped at $2,200. You think he is on the straight draw but likely does not hold an Ace, so you want to take him out now before he fills his straight on the river. If you move all in, and he calls, it means he has you beat and you are out of the game. You are close to him in chips, however, and he won't want to narrow the gap so he will fold if you bet around $600.

Pick the right amount and don't go for overkill with all in moves and you will last longer in your tournaments.