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Everyone knows that donk bets are very popular among weaker players, but this does not mean that this type of bet cannot be used profitably.
What is a Donk Bet and why is it Considered a Bad Move?
A donk bet is a bet made before the preflop aggressor (player who was last aggressive preflop) gets an opportunity to bet. On forums, this bet is often frowned upon, which is even reflected in its name (Donk is short for Donkey). Everyone knows that this bet is especially popular among weak players, but this does not mean that it cannot be used effectively and profitably.
Fish players always use donk bets, but what is the reason behind it? Let’s look at the key reasons why this type of bet has become a signature move of recreational players:
- They want to test the waters;
- They try to intimidate the aggressor;
- They want to see the next common card cheaply (on their terms);
- They have a strong combination, but they don’t know how to extract value.
Obviously, none of these reasons is good enough to justify donk betting. Perhaps the main reason to stay away from donk betting is the desire of players to make continuation bets. Even the most clueless recreational player knows that a preflop raise is usually followed by a bet on the flop. This means that a check-raise on the flop can be considered a more effective and profitable move.
How to Donk Bet for Value
So, let’s imagine a situation on PokerStars $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold’em, five players at the table:
BTN: $50.00 (15/11/2, 53% continuation bet, 40% steal from the button over 600 hands).
Hero (SB): $50.00.
BB: $61.70.
UTG: $52.75.
CO: $38.15.
Preflop ($0.75):
Hero is in the small blind with sevens (77).
Two players fold, BTN raises to $1.50, Hero calls $1.25, big blind folds.
Flop ($3.50):
Board: 7♠ 6♦ 4♣ (two players in the pot).
Hero bets $2.55.
In this case, BTN has a low continuation bet percentage, and judging by the board, he will check unless of course he has a strong hand. Most likely, we will not have the opportunity to check-raise, so why not bet ourselves? You are still getting value from the hands that will continue against a check/raise, and you are not giving the villain a free card before a 3, 5, 8, 9 or a heart comes on the turn. However, if his c-bet value were, say, 92%, then it would be better to check-raise.
Flop texture is another important factor. This board is not a c-bet board because neither A-K nor A-Q hit it. So an opponent who c-bets 53% of the time will still c-bet on an A-9-7 flop a lot, while mostly checking on a board like 7-6-4.
You don’t have to only donk bet nutted hands for value. You can also play this way with top pair and other medium-strength hands if you think your opponent might call with a weaker hand. And these are not all the strategies for donk betting that we would like to consider, so let’s continue.
Donk Betting as a Bluff
If your opponent doesn’t often make a continuation bet in a certain situation, you can use a donk bet as a bluff. In this hand, we are up against the same opponent as in the previous example:
BTN: $50.00 (15/11/2, 53% continuation bet, 40% steal attempts over 600 hands).
Hero (SB): $50.00.
BB: $61.70.
UTG: $52.75.
CO: $38.15.
Preflop ($0.75):
Hero is in the small blind with K♠ J♦.
Two players fold, BTN raises to $1.50, Hero calls $1.25, the big blind folds.
Flop ($3.50):
The board comes 10♦ 9♠ 6♣ (two players in the pot).
Hero bets $2.50.
We called preflop because we are ahead of his stealing range, but it’s not about our preflop decision. We got some equity on the flop, holding a gutshot and two overcards on a 10-high board. Seems like a good board to check/raise, right? The villain will think the same way, and will stay away from c-betting lightly because the board fits our range better than his own. So if we check, he will likely check back. Therefore, it’s a nice spot to donk bet including with some bluffs.
When deciding to donk bet, it is important to consider your own check-raising propensity, how often have you check-raised this opponent in the past? What cards did you show down after? If he thinks that you check/raise a lot, donk betting is good, because your opponent will check behind more often. But if you haven’t check/raised at all before, your opponent will continue to be aggressive with a much larger part of his range, thereby reducing the profitability of your donk bet.
Can Donk Betting be Profitable?
Absolutely! But first, you should remember that you should never donk bet on ace-high or “broadway boards” (cards from T to A), since they usually suit the preflop raiser’s range better.
However, donk bets can be justified on low or medium coordinated boards, where we have a strong range advantage against the preflop raiser. In addition, donk bets allow us to prevent our opponent from seeing the turn card for free. This means that we are taking away some of their equity from their ace-high or king-high hands.
Multi-way pots are a great example of a situation where donk betting makes sense. The preflop raiser is less likely to make a continuation bet against multiple opponents if his hand is weak or marginal.
In all of these cases, donking can be justified. However, the question remains. What hands should we use for donk betting strategies and how can we protect ourselves from being exploited?
How to Donk Bet Efficiently
When you find yourself in a situation where donking might be justified, it is important to decide which hands to donk with and what bet size to use. It is best to donk bet with a fairly wide range and choose a small bet size.
A wide donk betting range reduces the likelihood that your opponents will be able to exploit you. If you were to use a polarized range consisting only of strong hands and weak draws, your opponents would be able to eliminate a lot of hands from your checking range.
Instead, you should donk bet a variety of hands: strong made hands, strong draws, and weak draws, using the same bet size for all of them. Since the donk bet will include a large portion of your overall defending range, the optimal bet size is around 30% of the pot. Using a larger bet size with such a wide range would be a mistake.
A small donk bet allows us to continue to navigate the hand on following streets well and provide us with some information based on the villain’s reaction to our small bet.
How can HisHands Data Mining Help?
Analyzing opponents with our HisHands service allows you to determine the optimal moments for using a donk bet in poker. The service provides access to an extensive database of hands with coverage of up to 99% for popular poker rooms. This allows a poker player to analyze the game tendencies and behavior of opponents in more detail, identifying their weaknesses and leaks.
Using this data, you can determine against whom a donk bet will be most effective. For example, if the analysis shows that a certain player often makes continuation bets after a preflop raise, a donk bet can throw him off. In addition, if the opponent is prone to passive play and often checks in response to bets, a donk bet will allow you to take the initiative and control the size of the pot.
Thus, by analyzing the statistics of other players via HisHands, you can determine their tendencies and choose the best moments to use a donk bet, which will increase your efficiency and profitability at the online tables. To purchase a ready-made hand history package, contact us via Telegram, WhatsApp and Skype!
Conclusion
A donk bet is a tool that requires a deep understanding of game situations and an accurate calculation of probabilities. Unlike standard lines, where aggression comes from the player who set the tone of the hand on the previous street, a donk bet disrupts the dynamics and forces the opponent to adapt.
The effectiveness of a donk bet in poker depends on a number of factors: the board structure, the opponent’s range and your own image at the table. For example, on textures with low cards, a donk bet can be especially effective against tight opponents whose ranges usually consist of high cards. At the same time, the key to the successful use of a donk bet is balance. If you use it mindlessly, without taking into account all factors, it won’t be effective.
When used correctly and in the right situations, donk betting is a very helpful move. Continuation bets still occur in poker all the time, so it is not worth using donk bets everywhere, but it will make you a tougher player to deal with and will help you get the most out of the game. Always go for the best moves in every spot, no matter how weird and uncommon those might look. We wish everyone successful games!
