Beginner — Step-by-step

1. Preflop hand selection (keep it tight OOP)
   • If you’re opening from an early/middle position and will be OOP vs later players, favor strong value hands and broadways: AA–99, AK, AQ, AJ (suited higher), KQ suited.
   • Avoid: weak offsuit hands and lots of speculative suited connectors when you expect to be OOP and the stacks are shallow-to-medium. Those rely on playing postflop in position.
2. 3-bet and fold more (don’t call too many opens)
   • If facing a raise and you’ll be OOP postflop, 3-bet for value or fold more often than a flat call with marginal hands. Playing a big pot OOP with marginal calling hands is a leak.
3. Postflop — default to pot control
   • With medium-strength hands (middle pair, top pair with weak kicker, draws), check and keep the pot small. Acting first gives the initiative to your opponent — don’t gift them free cards when you’re likely behind.
   • With strong hands (two pair+, strong made hands), value bet — but size carefully so you get called by worse and protect vs draws.
4. C-bet less often
   • As OOP you usually have a range disadvantage on many flops. Don’t auto continuation-bet every time. C-bet when you have real equity (made hand or decent draw) or when the board is dry and likely to fold the opponent’s range.
5. Use simple floats
   • If IP (in position) c-bets frequently on certain board textures, float (call the flop) with a plan to take the pot away on a later street when they show weakness, or when you pick up equity.
6. Avoid multiway battles with marginal hands OOP
   • Multiway pots make being OOP much worse. Tighten up or fold marginal hands preflop in multiway pots.
7. Short stack vs deep stack differences
   • Short (<40bb): play more straightforward — commit with top-pair+ when SPR (stack-to-pot ratio) is low.
   • Deep (>100bb): speculative hands gain value, but be mindful of being OOP — you still need to reduce marginal OOP situations.

Intermediate — step-by-step adjustments & advanced ideas

1. Exploit opponents, then balance
   • If an opponent over-folds to C-bets or turn barrels, increase your bluff frequency on those spots, even OOP.
   • If they don’t fold enough, reduce bluffs and value bet more. Exploit first; only worry about balance if you play against regs who adjust.
2. Use preflop 3-bets to avoid OOP
   • If you frequently end up OOP vs a specific player, 3-bet preflop to take initiative or to isolate them. A successful 3-bet often gets you IP or narrows their calling range.
3. Sizing strategy OOP
   • Value bets: size to extract — small-to-medium sizing to get worse hands to call; larger sizing when you must fold out equity (charge draws).
   • Bluffs: ensure you have blockers (e.g., holding an ace when bluffing into a range that fears an ace) and at least some equity (backdoor draws). Don’t bluff multi-street without a plan.
4. Check-raise as a defensive/constructive tool
   • Use check-raise selectively with nuts/semistrong hands or polarized bluffs. It’s a way to punish aggressive IP players and take the initiative.
5. SPR management
   • Know SPR (stack size / pot size). With a low SPR (≈1–3) commit with top pair+ or strong hands. With high SPR, avoid overcommitting with vulnerable top pairs; play smaller or check-call until you can deny free cards or get to showdown cheaply.
6. Blockers & card removal
   • Use blocker effects when bluffing OOP. Having an Ace or King can make bluffs more credible against opponents who fear those ranks.
7. Multi-street planning
   • Always have a plan — if you call the flop, know what you’ll do on the turn if checked to: check-call, check-fold, or bet as a bluff/value. Don’t “play street by street” without a plan.

Common board textures & quick reactions

• Dry boards (K-7-2 rainbow): OOP you can c-bet more if you have a hand or block strong combos; good spot to bluff if IP checks a lot.
• Wet/connected boards (J-T-9 with two suits): be cautious — lots of draws and combos; prefer checking and pot control unless you have the nuts or strong draw.
• Paired boards (8-8-2): strong for slow-played pairs — check more; value bet bigger when ahead because it’s hard for drawing hands to have value.

Short, practical sample lines (concrete examples)

1. You: MP open, BTN calls. Flop: K-7-2 rainbow. You hold A-K.
   • You have top pair, top kicker. Bet for value/protection (don’t check and let BTN decide). Size to get called by worse (medium size); be ready to barrel turn if a scary card hits.
2. You: SB defend vs BTN open with A5s (deep stacks). Flop: J-9-4 with two suits.
   • Weak made + backdoor. Check and call small bets if IP c-bets often; don’t lead unless you plan to bluff and know BTN folds too often.
3. You: Facing IP frequent c-bettor on dry boards.
   • Float the flop with hands like Kx, Qx, then bluff-turn if they give up. Exploit their frequency.

Practical drills to improve OOP (do these in short sessions)

• Preflop discipline drill: Track 100 hands and mark how many times you go OOP with marginal holdings. Try to cut that in half next session.
• C-bet frequency drill: For one session, force yourself to c-bet ≤ 40% of flops when OOP; note which boards you c-bet and the outcomes.
• Turn plan drill: After every flop call that session, write down (mentally) your turn plan before you see it: fold, bet, raise, or check-call. Review afterwards.

Common leaks & what to avoid

• Calling too often preflop with marginal hands and getting OOP in multiway pots.
• Auto-c-betting on every flop OOP.
• Bluffing multi-street without blockers or backup equity.
• Letting frustration from being OOP make you play thinly (tilt plays).

Wanna give poker a try, join PokerBet now! It’s FREE to join!