Protect
To protect is to bet with the aim of reducing the number of opponents who continue in the hand, and so increasing your chances to win. It protects a good hand from being outdrawn.
The simple explanation
If you have a good hand but the board has draws, you bet to make the draws fold or pay.
A closer look
Protection is the reason for betting on wet boards. It is not only about winning the pot but about making the opponent pay a fair price for his draw. The size must be large enough to charge draws. A protection bet may also build a pot. The danger is that stronger hands raise.
A practical example
You hold 9♥ 9♦ on a flop of 8♠ 6♠ 2♣ and bet to protect against draws.
Full explanation
To protect is to bet with the aim of reducing the number of opponents who continue in the hand, and so increasing your chances to win. It protects a good hand from being outdrawn.
To protect is to bet to reduce the opponents.
It guards a good hand against draws.
It works on wet boards.
Size the bet to charge draws.
A protection bet
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has a strong but vulnerable pair.
Board: 88 of spades (8s)66 of spades (6s)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 88 of spades (8s)66 of spades (6s)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 20 chips
Player A bets 8. He wants to make the draws pay or fold instead of getting free cards. This is a protection bet.
Board: 88 of spades (8s)66 of spades (6s)22 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 186 · In this round 8
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.