Double Barrel Poker
Double barrelling is term used when you fire a second bullet if your opponent has already called your flop continuation bet. Throughout this article we will look at why and when you should double barrel, whilst also looking at a couple of examples.
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What does the term Double Barrel mean in poker?
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Why Double Barrel?
Double barrelling can be a great way to get your opponent off hand that they have been willing to call your flop continuation bet, but may opt to fold if you decide to bet again on the turn.
It allows you to put pressure on your opponent by giving them decisions to make post flop not only regarding your hand, but also as to how strong their hand may be against your range.
When to Double Barrel?
Good spots to double barrel are when you think your opponent may be chasing a draw on the flop but the turn bricks, meaning that it misses all draws. Whilst your opponent may of be happy calling one street with their draw, charging them a second time for it may just get them to fold their hand resulting in you taking down the pot.
If an opponent likes to float flops, and you know this as fact, then the double barrel is often a great pressure move against these types of players. Look to fire at most turns to once again put them to a decision.
It’s often a misconception that the double barrel has to be an outright bluff to get someone to fold their hand. Whilst you may think your opponent has already made some sort of hand you can still bet again as long as you have some equity in your hand. If the turn were to pick you up a flush or straight draw, or even make you a pair, then this will be a good spot as it gives you more ways to win the hand even if your opponent decides to call again on the turn.
Be very selective in who you double barrel. There’s no point in betting if the player is just calling every street and you have little or no chance of getting them to fold any sort of hand. With these types of players we want to be betting our made hands and for value.
Example of When to Double Barrel
Some of the best cards to double barrel are that which bring an over card to the flop. So for example, the flop reads J,4,5 rainbow and your opponent elects to call your continuation bet on the flop. The turn card brings us an Ace which we decide to bet. Now our opponent may have thought that we were just firing a continuation bet at the board to try and take it down, but now the Ace has come there is a real opportunity of this card hitting our range, resulting in us getting them to fold and us taking the pot down.
Example of When Not to Double Barrel
The worst time to double barrel is when the turn completes a lot of draws out there which may have hit our opponents range. For example, the board runs out 4,8,9 with two clubs and we elect to cbet, whilst being called by our opponent. The turn brings the Ten of clubs completing all flush draws coupled with some straight draws and two pair combinations.
It’s likely that this will have hit our opponents calling range on the flop and improved his hand, meaning the amount of time we can get them to fold on this turn card is very low. Our play here is to just give up on the hand and look to check/fold.
Key Points
- Don’t overkill the amount you double barrel.
- Be selective with opponents that you target for a double barrel.
- Use turn card that you think will of missed your opponents range or not improved their hand.
- Don’t get carried away in an attempt to get your opponent to fold. Sometimes they just have it!
After reading my previous article, you started to continuation bet with huge success. There is another flop, you make a c-bet and surprisingly your opponent calls. The turn card did not improve your hand and you have a hopeless air. What now? Double barreling will often win you the pot, when used in right circumstances.
Please note that this article is not intended to be read if you play at NL25 or lower stakes due to the poor level of players that can be found there.
Double barreling
Double barreling is making a second continuation bet on the turn, regardless of your hand strength.
Firing a second barrel (another name for double barreling) can be more difficult than continuation bet, as you risk more money and first of all you will have to overcome your own fear.
Double Barrel Poker
I assume that you considered all necessary factors (opponent type, flop texture, number of opponents, position), when you made your continuation bet on the flop. If you made a mistake with this, do not even try to fix it by firing a second barrel. You will only lose more money.
Double barreling can be very effective when you consider all of the points listed below:
Opponent type
Firing a second barrel against a calling station is pointless. If they called the flop bet, they will want to see the showdown no matter the price. Do not bet unless your hand is good.
You also should not double barrel versus very tight players (rocks). They play only the nuts so when they call your preflop raise and then the continuation bet on the flop, they certainly have a monster hand.
I mentioned earlier that I c-bet 100% of the time against players that fold to 60% continuation bets and more. When they call my c-bet, I never fire a second barrel, unless my hand is very strong.
Double barreling works well against opponents that love floating flops. They call continuation bets with anything just to steal the pot when you do not fire more barrels on later streets.
Board texture
If you fire a second barrel as a bluff, the best turn cards are ones that can scare your opponent. Overcards to the flop work best for this purpose. Since your opponent most likely called your continuation bet with some sort of top or medium pair, they will be very uncomfortable with an overcard on the turn. Examples:
Flop: T34 Turn: A
Flop: Q84 Turn: K
Flop: J72 Turn: Q
Double barreling may also be successful when the turn card is just slightly lower than the highest card on the flop. However, it does not work as often as with an overcard. Examples:
Flop: A52 Turn: K
Flop: K73 Turn: J
Flop: Q85 Turn: T
You should never fire a second barrel when the turn is an undercard to the flop, a card way below the highest card on the flop, or when the board pairs. If your opponent has a top pair, they will never fold to another bet with such a card on the turn. Examples:
Flop: A95 Turn: 2
Flop: K82 Turn: 5
Flop: J64 Turn: 4
The board textures shown above are not a definite guide to double barreling. The better you are at reading other players, the more turn cards you will successfully be able to fire a second barrel with.
Number of opponents
You should double barrel exclusively when you are heads up on the turn, unless your hand is strong. If more than one player called your preflop raise and continuation bet on the flop, at least one of them will definitely have a very good hand that will not fold to a second barrel.
Position
Position always matters. It is plain simple. When you have position, you have more information, more control, and you can double barrel more often. Out of position – fire less second barrels.
Double barrel with made hands, draws, and air
Double Barrel Poker Room
It is quite obvious that you should bet when your hand is strong. You do this for value. However, if you bet only with made hands and check/fold anything else, your opponents will read you like a book and will be to able make optimal decisions against you.
This is why you should double barrel also as a semi-bluff (when you have some outs to improve your hand) and as a complete bluff. This way your range will become balanced and your opponents will find it difficult to read your hands, often having to guess what you can have. Their guessing means making mistakes and their mistakes equal to more money in your wallet.
Double Barrel Poker Ride
Conclusion on double barreling
Mastering the art of double barreling can be difficult for beginning players. If you want to move up in limits, you will definitely have to implement it into your game, though. It will take some time but you will get it eventually. Remember - practice makes perfect.
More articles on specific poker plays:
Double Barrel Poker
Check raise
Continuation bet
Floating
Semi-bluff
Squeeze play
Stealing blinds
Go back to the Online Poker Strategy.