Poker chat is a new show held weekly in the Buddy Up server on discord https://discord.gg/Y8sbvA5 The show starts at 8 PM UK time (7 PM UTC) and generally runs for one hour. The show is open to players of all levels.

Everyone has something they can add or learn from in a discussion. Bring your poker questions along to the server. The majority of them we will be able to answer. The topic of this week's discussion seems to be leaning towards betting and the size of the bet.

What difference does a bet make?
Off the bat, not betting means you risk nothing. It also means your opponent risks nothing.
Not betting will increase the number of people in play, reducing your chances of gaining the pot.
Not betting if you call another's raise will mean you are calling another player when THEIR cards are good and letting them get in cheap when your cards are good.

This does not mean you raise every hand you get. It means you understand various values of bet size, position vs stack size and ante.

Comparing two different positions on a full table of nine players. In late position, cards like 9 10 or Q 10 become more advantageous to play if there has been no action before your turn. If you are on the button there is only two players left to play.

Limping in here with just a call, gives all players a chance to hit on the flop. A raise higher than a minimum raise can sway these players to fold and you win the pot.
The same cards Under the Gun. Playing first after the big blind. Raising here with Q 10 can turn into a disaster with so many players left to play after you. Frequent calling with average cards or less in this position will lead to a loss of chips from folding to raises or all in's.

The show is not about teaching you how to play poker. The best way or the right way is the way that you find most fun. While there is small prizes involved, the show is more about the community of people who enjoy the game chatting for an hour about various aspects of the game.

We do hope to share some information of strategies why's and why not's. Beyond this, we respect each players freedom to play they way they want.

Bring your questions along to the show on Wednesday in the @buddyup Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Y8sbvA5
See you there or at the tables.