Texas Holdem Radio

Poker Strategy Session #7

 By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

Playing Pocket Pairs Like a Pro

Pocket pairs are one of the most misunderstood hands in poker.

From pocket deuces to pocket aces, knowing how to properly play them can dramatically increase your win rate.

This session breaks down exactly how to play pocket pairs at every stage.

What Are Pocket Pairs?

A pocket pair is when you are dealt:

AA, KK, QQ… all the way down to 22.

These hands fall into three main categories:

1. Premium Pairs

AA, KK, QQ

2. Medium Pairs

JJ – 77

3. Small Pairs

66 – 22

Each category requires a completely different strategy.

How to Play Premium Pairs (AA, KK, QQ)

These are your money makers.

Pre-Flop Strategy:

✔ Always raise
✔ Re-raise aggressively (3-bet)
✔ Build the pot

Goal:

Get value, not get tricky

Common mistake:
Slow playing too often.

👉 Don’t get cute. Charge your opponents.

How to Play Medium Pairs (JJ – 77)

These are danger zone hands.

They are often:

• ahead pre-flop
  • but vulnerable post-flop

Pre-Flop:

✔ Raise in most positions
✔ Be cautious facing big re-raises

Post-Flop:

Ask yourself:

“Did this flop help my opponent more than me?”

Example:

You have: 99
Flop: K♦ Q♣ 5♠

👉 You’re likely behind.

How to Play Small Pairs (66 – 22)

These hands are best used for:

Set Mining

That means:

Calling pre-flop hoping to hit three of a kind (a set).

Key Rule:

You should have at least 10x–15x the call amount in effective stack behind.

Example:

Call $10 → opponent should have $100–$150 behind

When You Hit a Set

This is where you make your money.

Strategy:

✔ Play aggressively
✔ Build the pot early
✔ Don’t slow play too much

Why?

Because:

• draws can catch up
  • scare cards can kill action

👉 Get paid while you’re ahead.

When You Miss the Flop

Most of the time… you will.

If you don’t hit your set:

✔ Fold to aggression
✔ Don’t get attached to the hand
✔ Avoid “hope calling”

Position Matters

Pocket pairs play MUCH better:

✔ In late position
✔ When you control the action
✔ Against fewer opponents

The earlier your position, the more cautious you should be.

Quick Strategy Tips

✔ Raise premium pairs aggressively
✔ Don’t overvalue medium pairs
✔ Set mine small pairs
✔ Fold when you miss and face pressure
✔ Always consider stack sizes

Pro Insight

Great players don’t just look at their pair…

They think:

“How strong is my pair relative to this board?”

A pair of 9’s can be:

• very strong pre-flop
  • completely worthless post-flop

Context is everything.

Coming Next Session

Strategy Session #8

Bluffing: When, Why, and How

• Identifying the best bluff spots
  • Reading weakness
  • Avoiding costly mistakes

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Texas Holdem Radio

Poker Strategy Session #6

 By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

Mastering Continuation Betting (C-Bets)

One of the most powerful weapons in modern poker strategy is the continuation bet, commonly called a C-Bet.

If you raised before the flop and then bet again on the flop, you are making a continuation bet — continuing the story that you have the strongest hand.

Learning when to C-Bet, how much to bet, and when to give up separates average players from consistently winning players.

What Is a Continuation Bet?

A continuation bet occurs when:

1. You raise pre-flop
2. One or more players call
3. You bet again on the flop

The logic is simple:

You represented strength pre-flop.
The flop bet reinforces that story.

Most of the time your opponents miss the flop, meaning they fold a large percentage of hands.

Why C-Bets Work

Even strong starting hands only hit the flop about 1/3 of the time.

Example:

You raise with:

AK

Flop comes:

9♦ 4♣ 2♠

You likely missed — but so did your opponent.

Because you showed strength pre-flop, your opponent often assumes you have:

AA
KK
AK
AQ
or an overpair.

That pressure forces folds.

Good Boards to C-Bet

Certain flops strongly favor the pre-flop raiser.

Examples:

Dry Boards

A♣ 7♦ 2♠
K♦ 8♣ 3♥

These boards are hard for callers to connect with.

These are excellent spots to C-Bet nearly every time.

Dangerous Boards to Be Careful

Some flops hit the caller's range better.

Examples:

9♠ 8♠ 7♦
J♥ T♥ 9♣

These boards are:

• connected
  • draw heavy
  • dangerous for bluffs

In these situations, consider:

• checking
  • pot controlling
  • choosing smaller bets

Optimal C-Bet Sizing

A common mistake is betting too large.

Typical strong C-Bet sizes:

1/3 pot
or
1/2 pot

Smaller bets accomplish the same goal:

They apply pressure while risking fewer chips.

Remember:

Poker is about risk vs reward.

When to Give Up

Even the best players don't fire multiple barrels blindly.

Warning signs:

• multiple callers
  • coordinated boards
  • aggressive opponents

Sometimes the best play is simply:

Check and move on.

Saving chips is just as important as winning pots.

Quick Strategy Tips

✔ C-Bet more when heads-up
✔ C-Bet more on dry boards
✔ Use smaller bet sizes
✔ Avoid bluffing into multiple players
✔ Pay attention to opponent tendencies

Pro Insight

The best players are not just betting randomly.

They are constantly asking:

“Does this board favor my range or my opponent's range?”

Once you start thinking in terms of ranges instead of cards, your strategy will level up quickly.

Coming Next Session

Strategy Session #7

Playing Pocket Pairs Like a Pro

• When to set mine
  • When to fold small pairs
  • How to extract maximum value

 

 

Texas Hold’em Radio – Weekly Strategy Session

 Week 5 – 2026

 By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

 

 

If Week 4 was about continuation betting, Week 5 is where we separate the button-clickers from the thinkers.
This week I’m focusing on Turn & River decision-making — where most money is actually won (or punted).

A lot of players play the flop fine… and then completely lose the plot when the board changes or pressure ramps up. Let’s fix that.

Big Idea for Week 5

👉 Every turn and river decision must answer ONE question:

Am I betting for value, protection, or as a bluff — and what worse hands continue?

If you can’t answer that instantly, checking is often the better play.

1. Turn Play: The Truth Card

The turn is where ranges start to narrow and mistakes get expensive.

When to Fire the Turn

I double-barrel the turn when:

• The turn improves my perceived range (overcards, scare cards, range cards)
• I have equity + fold equity
• I’m still getting value from worse hands

Example – Cash Game

• You raise CO with A♠ K♠
• BB calls
• Flop: K♦ 7♣ 2♠ → you c-bet, BB calls
• Turn: Q♠

This is a beautiful turn.

• You pick up nut-flush equity
• You block strong Kx
• Worse hands (KJ, KT, 7x, flush draws) still continue

Bet again.

When to Slow Down

I check turns when:

• The turn smashes villain’s range
• I’m against sticky calling stations
• My hand has showdown value but hates a raise

Remember: checking doesn’t mean weakness — it often means control.

2. River Play: Value > Ego

Rivers are where players either print… or light money on fire.

Value Betting the River

Ask yourself:

• What worse hands realistically call?
• How thin is too thin against this opponent?

Example – Tournament Spot

• You raise with Q♠ Q♦
• Board runs: Q♣ 9♠ 6♠ 4♥ 2♦

You have top set.
If your opponent can call with:

• Overpairs? No.
• Two pair? Rare.
• Missed draws? No.

This is a small value bet or a check, not an ego shove.

Great players don’t size for how strong they feel — they size for how weak the caller is.

3. Bluffing Rivers (The Adult Version)

River bluffs should be:

• Credible
• Blocker-based
• Opponent-specific

I bluff rivers when:

• I block the nuts
• The story makes sense from preflop → river
• My opponent can actually fold

If you’re bluffing a calling station, that’s not strategy — that’s charity.

4. Bet Sizing: Stop Using One Size

Turn & river sizing matters more than flop sizing.

My Simple Framework

• Small bets (25–40%) → thin value, cheap bluffs
• Medium bets (50–70%) → strong value, pressure
• Big bets / overbets → polarized (nuts or air)

If you’re betting big without polarization, you’re begging to get paid wrong or snapped off.

Week 5 Homework

Before you click “bet” on the turn or river, force yourself to say:

1. What am I representing?
2. What hands call?
3. What hands fold?
4. Am I happy if I get raised?

If you don’t like the answers — check.

Final Thought

Flops are flashy.
Turns build pots.
Rivers decide winners.

Master turn and river play, and your win-rate jumps immediately — in cash games, tournaments, and especially live poker where players hate folding late.

Next week, I’ll dive into Week 6: Board Texture & Range Advantage — how to know who the board actually favors before you put a chip in the pot.

See you at the tables,
Hal ♠️

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🎙️ Weekly Poker Strategy Coaching

Week 4 – 2026

Continuation Betting: When to Fire, When to Slow Down

 By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

 

By now, we’ve talked about hand selection, discipline, and position. This week is where I see the biggest mistakes — and the biggest opportunities.

Continuation betting, or c-betting, is one of the most misunderstood concepts in poker. Some players c-bet every flop. Others never do. Both are wrong.

A continuation bet isn’t automatic.
It’s intentional.

What a Continuation Bet Really Is

A continuation bet is simply this:

I raised preflop, and I bet the flop.

That’s it.

But why I bet the flop matters more than the fact that I raised preflop.

I’m asking myself:

• Who does this board favor?
• What am I representing?
• How many players am I against?
• Do I have equity if called?

If I don’t know the answer to those questions, I shouldn’t be betting.

When I Almost Always C-Bet

Dry, Disconnected Boards

Boards like:

• K♣ 7♦ 2♠
• A♦ 9♠ 4♣
• Q♠ 6♦ 3♣

These flops miss most calling ranges. Even when I miss, I’m still representing strength.

In heads-up pots, I’ll c-bet these boards often, even with nothing.

When I Have Range Advantage

If I raise from late position and get called by the blinds, many flops favor me — even if I miss.

Why?

• I have more strong aces
• I have more big pairs
• I have more broadways

That’s not ego — that’s math.

When I Slow Down (And Save Money)

Wet, Connected Boards

Boards like:

• 9♠ T♠ J♦
• 8♦ 9♦ T♣
• 6♠ 7♠ 8♥

These boards smash calling ranges. When I c-bet blindly here, I’m lighting chips on fire.

Unless I have strong equity or a real plan, I often check these boards.

Multiway Pots

This is huge.

The more players in the pot, the less I c-bet. Someone usually has something.

Heads-up? I apply pressure.
Three or four players? I tighten way up.

Hand Example #1: Standard C-Bet

I raise from the cutoff with A♠ K♦
Big blind calls.

Flop: K♣ 7♦ 2♠

This is a slam-dunk c-bet.

• I hit top pair
• Board is dry
• My opponent checks

I bet for value and protection.

Hand Example #2: Missed Flop, Still a Bet

I raise on the button with Q♠ J♠
Big blind calls.

Flop: A♦ 6♣ 2♠

I missed — but this is still a great c-bet.

• Ace favors my range
• Board is dry
• One opponent

If he folds, I win immediately. If he calls, I reassess.

Hand Example #3: Knowing When to Check

I raise with A♦ Q♦
Two callers.

Flop: T♦ 9♠ 8♣

Even though I have overcards and a backdoor draw, this board is dangerous.

I often check here.

• Too many strong draws out there
• Multiway pot
• I don’t need to force action

Checking isn’t weakness — it’s control.

Biggest C-Bet Mistakes I See

• C-betting every flop automatically
• Betting wet boards with no equity
• Betting multiway pots too often
• Firing turn barrels without a plan

A continuation bet should tell a believable story. If it doesn’t, good players will punish you.

My C-Bet Rule of Thumb

Before I bet the flop, I ask:

“What am I trying to accomplish?”

If the answer is “because I raised,” I check.

Week 4 Player Challenge

This week, I want you to:

1. Track every c-bet you make
2. Note board texture (dry vs wet)
3. Record results when checked vs bet

You’ll be shocked how much money you save by checking more.

Coming Up Next Week

In Week 5, I’ll dive into Turn Play & Double Barrels — when to keep applying pressure and when to shut it down before things get expensive.

Until then:
Bet with purpose.
Check with confidence.
And remember — not every flop belongs to you. ♠️🔥

 

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🎙️ Weekly Poker Strategy Coaching

Week 3 – 2026

Position Is Power: Playing Fewer Hands, Winning Bigger Pots

 By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

 

Below is Texas Hold’em Radio – Poker Strategy Week 3, written in first person, ready to post. I’ve also included a visual header image concept (image group) that matches the strategy theme and can be turned into a 4K branded header file on request.

🃏 Poker Strategy – Week 3

Position Is Power: Playing Fewer Hands, Winning Bigger Pots

 

 

 

Week 3 Focus

If there’s one concept I wish every player truly understood early, it’s this:
Position is everything.

I don’t care how pretty your cards look—if you’re out of position, you’re fighting an uphill battle. This week, I want you to start winning before the flop by simply choosing better spots based on where you’re sitting at the table.

🔁 What Position Really Means

Position is about who acts last on every betting street.

• Early Position (EP): Under the Gun (UTG, UTG+1)
• Middle Position (MP): The bridge between danger and opportunity
• Late Position (LP): Cutoff (CO) and Button (BTN)
• Blinds: Worst seats post-flop, period

The later you act, the more information you have—and information wins money.

🎯 My Core Rule

I play fewer hands early, more hands late, and aggressively protect my late position.

If you apply just that rule consistently, your win rate improves immediately.

📊 Preflop Hand Selection by Position (Live Games)

Early Position (Tight & Disciplined)

Hands I’m opening:

• AA–TT
• AK, AQ (sometimes AJs)
• KQs

Hands I’m not opening:

• Small pairs (unless table is passive)
• Suited connectors
• Weak aces

Early position mistakes are expensive because you’ll be first to act every street.

Middle Position (Controlled Expansion)

Hands I add:

• 99–77
• AJs–ATs
• KQs, QJs
• Occasional suited connectors (98s+)

I’m still cautious, but now I can observe how tight or loose the table really is.

Late Position (Where I Make My Money)

Hands I add:

• Any pocket pair
• Most suited aces
• Broadways
• Suited connectors & one-gappers
• Occasional steals with blockers

On the button, I’m not just playing cards—I’m attacking ranges.

🧠 Hand Example #1 – Cash Game ($1/$3)

I’m on the Button with A♠9♠.
Two limpers ahead of me.

This is a mandatory raise.

Why?

• I have position
• I isolate weaker players
• I control pot size
• I can steal later streets

I raise to $20.
Blinds fold. One limper calls.

Flop: K♠7♠2♦

This hand prints money because:

• I have position
• Nut flush draw
• Fold equity

I continuation bet, knowing I can win the pot now or later.

🧠 Hand Example #2 – Tournament Spot

Middle stages of a tournament.
I’m in Early Position with K♦J♦.

This is a fold for me.

Same hand on the Button?
It’s a raise or even a 3-bet depending on stacks.

Same cards. Different position. Completely different strategy.

⚠️ Common Position Mistakes I See

• Limping early with speculative hands
• Calling raises out of position “to see a flop”
• Playing the same range from every seat
• Ignoring the button’s power

If you’re losing money, odds are you’re overplaying hands from bad seats.

🔥 Week 3 Assignment

For the next week:

1. Track how many hands you play from early position
2. Open wider only from the button and cutoff
3. Avoid calling raises out of position
4. Raise more—don’t limp late

You don’t need better cards.
You need better seats.

🎙️ Final Thought

Great poker players don’t just play hands—they play positions, people, and pressure.

Once you respect position, the game slows down, decisions get clearer, and your bankroll lasts longer.

Next week, I’ll break down bet sizing and why most players bet too small when it matters most.

— Hal
TexasHoldemRadio.com

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🎙️ Weekly Poker Strategy Coaching

Week 2 – 2026

Continuation Betting: When I Fire, When I Slow Down, When I Shut It Down

By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

Welcome back to my weekly poker strategy series on Texas Hold’em Radio.

Last week, I talked about playing fewer hands and respecting position. This week builds directly on that foundation—because once you start entering pots with better hands and better intent, the next big question becomes:

What do I do on the flop?

Specifically—should I continuation bet?

🃏 What a Continuation Bet Really Is

A continuation bet (c-bet) is when I raise preflop and then bet again on the flop.

Simple definition.
But the decision is anything but automatic.

One of the most expensive habits I see is players c-betting just because they were the preflop raiser. I don’t bet out of habit—I bet with a reason.

🧠 My Rule: I C-Bet With a Plan

Before I put chips in on the flop, I ask myself three questions:

1. Does this board favor my range?
2. Who is my opponent and will they fold?
3. What am I doing if I get called or raised?

If I don’t like the answers, I slow down—or I shut it down completely.

📊 Boards I Like to C-Bet

I c-bet more often on boards that:

• Are dry and disconnected
• Favor high cards
• Miss most calling ranges

Examples:

• A♣ 7♦ 2♠
• K♠ 8♦ 3♣
• Q♦ 5♠ 2♥

These boards allow me to represent strong hands credibly—even when I miss.

📉 Boards I Often Check

I check more often on boards that:

• Are coordinated
• Smash calling ranges
• Create multi-street danger

Examples:

• 9♠ 8♠ 7♦
• T♥ J♦ Q♠
• 6♣ 5♣ 4♥

On these boards, firing blindly just burns money.

🃏 Hand Examples – How I Play These Spots

Cash Game Example #1 – Standard C-Bet

Game: $1/$2 NLH
Position: Button
Hand: A♠ K♣
Action: I raise preflop, big blind calls
Flop: K♦ 7♣ 2♠

My Play: ➜ C-bet small (⅓ pot)

Why:

• I have top pair
• Board favors my range
• I get value from worse kings and pocket pairs

This is a clean, profitable c-bet.

Cash Game Example #2 – When I Slow Down

Hand: A♣ Q♣
Position: Cutoff
Flop: J♠ T♠ 9♦

My Play: ➜ Check

Why:

• Board smashes the caller’s range
• Too many draws and made hands
• Betting doesn’t fold better or get called by worse

This is a spot where discipline saves money.

Tournament Example #1 – Leveraging Fold Equity

Blinds: 500 / 1,000
Stack: 35 BB
Position: Button
Hand: K♠ Q♠
Flop: A♦ 6♣ 2♥

My Play: ➜ Small c-bet

Why:

• Ace-high board favors my range
• Opponent misses often
• Fold equity is high

I don’t need a hand—I need a believable story.

Tournament Example #2 – When I Shut It Down

Hand: 9♣ 9♦
Position: Middle Position
Flop: Q♠ J♦ T♣

My Play: ➜ Check and re-evaluate

Why:

• Board is terrible for my hand
• Too many turn cards make things worse
• Pot control keeps my stack intact

Sometimes the best bet is no bet.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• I don’t c-bet automatically
• I bet when the board, opponent, and situation line up
• Checking is not weakness—it’s strategy
• Protecting my stack is just as important as building it

📊 Your Homework This Week

Next time you raise preflop and see a flop, pause and ask:

• Who does this board really favor?
• What am I trying to accomplish with this bet?
• What’s my plan if I get called?

You’ll be amazed how quickly your decisions improve.

🔜 Coming Up Next Week

Week 3: Pot Control & Bet Sizing
Why I don’t build big pots with medium hands—and how bet size shapes outcomes.

Let’s keep playing smarter poker.

🃏🎙️ Texas Hold’em Radio

 

🎙️ Weekly Poker Strategy Coaching

Week 1 – 2026

Play Fewer Hands. Play Them Better

By: Hal Coblentz- Semi-Professional Cash Game Player 20+ years

Welcome to Week 1 of 2026 and the launch of my Weekly Poker Strategy Coaching Series here on Texas Hold’em Radio.

Each week, I’ll be sharing practical poker strategy—real-world concepts you can actually apply at the table. This isn’t about fancy solver talk or overcomplicating the game. It’s about thinking clearly, playing disciplined poker, and making better decisions consistently.

If you follow this series week after week, you’ll tighten up your fundamentals, eliminate common leaks, and start approaching the game with more confidence and purpose.

And we’re starting with the most important concept in poker—the one I see players ignore every single day.

🃏 Week 1 Strategy Session

Play Fewer Hands — Play Them Better

The biggest mistake I see from losing and breakeven players isn’t what they do after the flop.

It’s the hands they choose to play in the first place.. (I experienced this tonight as a matter of fact at Hustler Casino, Los Angeles )

Poker is not a game of constant action. It’s a game of patience, selection, and timing. Every hand you enter is an investment, and too many players invest in hands that simply don’t make money over time.

If you want to improve quickly, start here.

🔑 Position Is Everything

One of the first things I learned—and one of the last things many players truly respect—is position.

Your seat at the table should dictate how many hands you play.

Early Position (UTG / UTG+1)

When I’m first to act, I play tight and disciplined.

Hands I’m comfortable opening:

• AA–TT
• AK, AQ
• Occasionally AJs or KQs, depending on the table

If I’m unsure, I fold. Early position mistakes are costly and put you in tough spots for the rest of the hand.

Middle Position

From middle position, I can widen slightly—but control still matters.

Hands I’ll consider:

• 99–77
• AJ, ATs
• KQs, QJs
• Select suited connectors like 98s

I still avoid weak offsuit hands and “hope poker.”

Late Position (Button & Cutoff)

This is where I make a lot of my money.

Late position gives me:

• More information
• More stealing opportunities
• More control over pot size

Hands that are folds up front become profitable here because position gives you leverage.

🛑 I Don’t Limp

This is one habit I eliminated years ago—and my results improved immediately. Poker Pro Susie Asaacs who I met early in my poker life said something to me that always stuck. "If you can't raise, fold" is what she said. It really stuck with me and to this day if a hand isn’t good enough for me to raise, it usually isn’t good enough to play.

Limping:

• Invites multi-way pots
• Eliminates fold equity
• Forces you into guessing games post-flop

I raise with a plan—or I fold.

🧠 I Think in Ranges, Not Just Cards

I don’t ask myself:

“Do I have the best hand?”

I ask:

“How does my hand perform against my opponent’s range?”

Once you start thinking this way, poker becomes clearer and less emotional. You stop chasing hands and start making profitable decisions.

🃏 Hand Examples – How I Play These Spots

Cash Game Example #1 ($2/$3 NLH)

Position: UTG
Hand: K♠ J♦

My Play: ➜ Fold

Even though the hand looks decent, it’s dominated too often and puts me in bad spots out of position. This is an easy fold for me every time.

Cash Game Example #2 (Late Position)

Position: Button
Hand: A♣ 9♣
Action: Folds to me

My Play: ➜ Raise 2.5–3x

Now the same concept changes completely. I have position, fold equity, and strong draw potential. This is a profitable open for me.

Tournament Example #1 (Early Levels)

Blinds: 100 / 200
Stack: 40 BB
Position: UTG+1
Hand: 6♠ 6♦

My Play: ➜ Small raise or fold depending on the table

Early in tournaments, I don’t force action. Small pairs play best heads-up, and I’m focused on stack preservation—not gambling.

Tournament Example #2 (Mid Stages)

Blinds: 1,000 / 2,000
Stack: 22 BB
Position: Cutoff
Hand: Q♠ J♠

My Play: ➜ Open raise

This is a spot where pressure matters. I still have fold equity, position, and a hand that plays well post-flop. These are the spots where tournaments are actually won.

📊 Your Homework This Week

This strategy works whether you are playing live or online like many of our listeners. :

1. Pay attention to how many hands you play
2. Note your position when you enter pots
3. Be honest about hands you knew you shouldn’t have played

Awareness alone will improve your game.

🎯 Final Thought

Poker rewards patience, discipline, and clarity.

I don’t win by playing more hands.
I win by playing better hands, in better spots, for better reasons.

Next week, I’ll break down Continuation Betting—when I fire, when I slow down, and when I shut it down completely.

Welcome to 2026!
Let’s play smarter poker.

Texas Hold’em Radio