Extracting as much money as possible from each situation is key to being successful at poker. There is a right way to play a hand and then there is a wrong way. The correct power poker play might not always be one of these, but here are three good lines to take against different types of opponents.

Stack a Donk

This strategy sticks true to its name. You use this out of position against weak players. For example, you raise 33 from MP and the button calls. The flop comes 377. You flop a boat and bet weaker than normal at the pot and he calls. The turn is a T and you check. He bets and you re-raise all in. This strategy is for hands that don’t have high cards in them on boards that don’t have high cards. Use this against weak players who you know don’t give credit to a preflop raiser when there is no high card. You must be out of position to make this play and you must do it on a board it doesn’t look like you would have hit. Players like to lead with pocket 4s-10s there when you check the turn and there is no high card. You will tend to get called a lot by weak players because they consider themselves pot committed.

Another example is when you raise KK from UTG and CO calls. The flop comes 268. You have an over pair and bet weaker than normal and he calls. Then attempt a check raise all in on the turn and win all their chips.

Bet, Bet, Bluff Catcher

This poker strategy is used against opponents you know like to chase draws. The idea behind this is getting value from straight draws and flush draws missing two thirds of the time. For example, you raise AJ in MP and the button who loves to call with suited/connected cards and chase calls you. The flop is T9J rainbow. Even though you only have second pair here you are still going to bet it for value against the fact that your opponent’s range consists of mainly draws. You bet again on any turn that misses the draw. You check any river that makes the draw. Not only does checking save money from your opponent randomly having your 2nd pair beat, but offers them a chance to bet their missed draw which gives you even more value by just calling.

You don’t want there to be high cards on the board for this line because a lot of times your opponent will call preflop with hands like K5s, A4s in addition to suited and or connected cards.

The Float

This strategy play is used against tight players and must be done in position. For this strategy you are calling a flop bet with the intentions of taking the pot away on a later street. For example, a tight player raises from early position and you call with 78s on the button. The flop is 239. He bets and you call. The turn is a J and he checks. You bet - and he is now worried and will fold unless they have a made hand. This is taking advantage of knowing that your opponents range from early position is very tight and it is very unlikely that they hit the flop. If your opponent continues to apply pressure, you must then give up on the pot and fold. This can be also be done on single high card flops that aren’t ace high.

Another example would be when a tight opponent raises from early position and you call with 56s on the button. The flop is K73. Your opponent bets and you call. The turn is a 3 and your opponent checks. You bet. Aggression is the key to this play. You want to bet the turn here to make sure that your opponent can’t bluff a high card on the river against you.