Balanced Style
A balanced style avoids predictable patterns by using different actions in similar situations.
The simple explanation
A balanced style is a way of playing that avoids easy patterns. The player takes different actions in similar situations, so opponents cannot be sure what he holds. For example, he sometimes checks, sometimes bets small and sometimes bets large with the same kind of hand.
A closer look
A player who always bets the pot with a strong hand becomes predictable to attentive opponents. By varying the size and the action, he makes it harder to read. The cost of balancing is that you sometimes make a play that is not the best against a particular opponent. It matters most against strong players who pay attention to patterns.
A practical example
With a strong hand, a player sometimes checks, sometimes bets small and sometimes bets the pot, so opponents cannot be sure.
Full explanation
A balanced style avoids predictable patterns by using different actions in similar situations.
A balanced style avoids potentially exploitable patterns by performing different actions in similar situations. For example, a player who always makes a pot-sized bet with a strong hand becomes very predictable.
By balancing his style with a variety of actions in the same situation, such as checking, betting small or betting the whole pot, the player becomes more difficult to read.
Balance is a defense against opponents who adjust to your habits.
The related terms are balance and balancing.