A pot builder is not often used as there
are not many hands strong enough to do it. It does however
have a place in hi low and that place is where you have the
nut high hand, are also drawing to the nut low hand and want
to get people chasing you with low hands. Be aware that you
run the risk of someone outdrawing you for the high hand but
it is often worth taking this risk.
For example, you have the Ah 2h
The flop is 5h 6h Qh
You are first to bet and the pot is $50.
There are 2 other players in the pot behind you. Here would
be a good time to make a pot building bet of around $16. You
must assume that one of the players behind you has some sort
of hand, a lower flush or draw to the nut low, and that they
will call a small bet like this. Whether one or both calls
does not matter. If someone has trips or 2 pair and they outdraw
you, unlucky.
Both players call. The next card is a 4c.
The pot is now $98, you have the nut high and nut low. You
can now bet around $40 to keep the nut lows interested. If
you are lucky, you may have a J,Q or K flush along for the
ride.
Player B calls, C folds, last card is the
9d. The pot is $178. You now put your foot on the gas and bet
the pot of $178. Player B thinks for a bit but calls you as
he has already put money in this pot to make his low. He shows
A2 for the low and a weak high. You win three quarters of the
pot.
Notice in this hand, had you come out and
bet the pot, you would have scared off most players with lone
A2, instead, you created the appearance of value for him and
won around $200 that you may never have seen. You took a risk
in letting someone outdraw your nut flush who had 2 pair or
QQQ but it was a calculated risk considering you had the nut
low draw also.
