Updated on April 14, 2025
You will often hear the term ‘blockers’ used by two distinct types of players at the poker table: skilled players and those who are merely pretending to be knowledgeable. poker It's important to distinguish between the concept of a blocker bet in poker and the broader idea of what a blocker is in the game.
A blocker is defined as a card that you possess, which diminishes the chances of your opponent holding a certain hand.
- A blocker bet usually consists of a modest wager aimed at securing a low-cost showdown.
- In this article, we will clarify the essential role of blockers in poker, ensuring that you belong to the informed group.
We will guide you on how to start implementing blockers to improve your strategic choices in the game.
If you've ever wondered, 'What is a blocking bet in poker?' you may believe you already grasp the concept of blockers, but the notion we are discussing today is quite different. poker games .
What Is a Blocker in Poker?
A blocker acts as a card that empowers you to draw logical conclusions about the hands your opponent might hold. This process resembles the construction of an opponent's range, but it relies on concrete information rather than mere speculation.
To accurately label a card as a blocker, you must have precise knowledge of its location. Guesswork is not permitted!
Typically, players will refer to their
While discussing blockers, community cards and any cards that are accidentally revealed can also serve as blockers. poker hand The concept of blockers is fairly straightforward:
This awareness helps eliminate the possibility of certain hands forming. While this may seem obvious, leveraging this information to gain an advantage isn't always easy.
To truly grasp the idea of blockers, it’s crucial to understand how
function; let’s briefly examine this topic. Although the details might get a bit complex, it will be worthwhile—if only to impress your friends with a mention of 'combinatorics' during conversations! poker combos The basics of blocker theory have been around for quite some time, but their recognition has surged in recent decades. This growth is largely attributed to enhanced computational capabilities and influential publications like Bill Chen's The Mathematics of Poker.
History of Blockers in Poker
Players have adopted a more analytical
methodology to the game, rendering an understanding of blockers essential for anyone aiming to excel. GTO poker A standard deck has 52 cards, capable of generating 1,336 distinct poker hands, including combinations like A♠️A♦️, Q♥️9♥️, and A♣️K♠️.
Poker Combinatorics
These unique arrangements are referred to as combinations or combos for brevity:
Each suited hand can yield four different combos (such as 6s7s, 6♥️7♥️, 6♣️7♣️, 6♦️7♦️)
- There are six possible combinations for each pocket pair (for instance, A♥️A♦️, A♥️A♠️, A♥️A♣️, A♠️A♦️, A♠️A♣️, and A♦️A♣️)
- Twelve combinations exist for each unsuited hand (like 6♠️7♦️, 6♥️7♠️, and 6♣️7♠️)
- You may have encountered people categorizing pocket pairs, suited, and off-suit hands together to claim there are 169 distinct starting hands in poker.
However, this categorization isn't applicable when it comes to understanding blockers, as you'll soon realize that each combination plays a crucial role.
With a foundational understanding of how poker hands are constructed, we can now analyze how blockers influence the game.
How Blockers Work
Imagine holding A♥️7♠️ before the flop and consider how this hand alters the probability of your opponent having 67s, 67o, and AA. (In reality, you'll block even more hands, but let's keep it straightforward for now.)
Firstly, your 7♠️ hinders, or 'blocks,' your opponent's possibility of having 6♠️7♠️, leaving just three combinations of 67s (hearts, clubs, and diamonds). The number of 67 off-suit combinations also declines, reducing from 12 to 9.
This means that your single seven of spades lowers the odds of your opponent holding 67 by 25%.
Blockers in poker become even more impactful when you consider pocket pairs. For example, having the Ace of Hearts means you block three potential combinations of AA (A♥️A♦️, A♥️A♠️, A♥️A♣️). Consequently, only three combinations remain (A♠️A♦️, A♠️A♣️, and A♦️A♣️), effectively cutting the chances that your opponent has AA by an impressive 50%.
In reality, holding one ace diminishes the likelihood that your opponent possesses one by 12.7%. This statistic is notable, which is why skilled players frequently utilize Ax hands to construct a blocker.
It’s not just about having an ace; due to that particular blocker, it's less probable that their opponent also holds one, thereby enhancing the chances of their bluff being successful. poker bluff preflop.
When you hold a pair, however, the dynamics can become even more complex. For instance, if you have 7♠️7♥️, your opponent can only possess two combinations of 67s, six combinations of 67o, and one combination of 77.
Such circumstances may seem trivial, but this blocker effect can be crucial during tense moments at the poker table.
Consider a board showing 4♣️5♣️8♦️2♦️K♥️; in this scenario, the blocking effect can frequently make hands like 66 or 77 preferable for calling rather than larger pairs such as TT or JJ.
Developing a routine of considering blockers also sharpens your ability to make more precise assessments of your opponent's range after the flop.
Since blockers can be utilized with board cards, post-flop scenarios can become intricate, although the overarching principle remains similar.
How Do Blockers Work Post-Flop?
Imagine your opponent executing a check-raise on the river with Q♥️9♥️A♥️3♦️7♣️.
- Here, they might be representing a flush; however, the presence of the A♥️ on the flop makes it impossible for them to hold any of the A♥️X♥️ combinations.
- Consequently, the likelihood of them holding a flush decreases since suited aces constitute a significant portion of a player's flush range.
- Likewise, the Q♥️ and 9♥️ obstruct combinations such as KQh, JQh, QTh, 9Th, 89h, and K9h, further limiting their potential flushes.
If your hand is A♣️8♥️, you will also block potential holdings like 68h, 78h, and T8h, which results in a narrowed set of possible flush combinations within your opponent’s range. If they opened from an early position, they might only possess J♥️T♥️ and K♥️J♥️ as feasible flush hands.
The temptation to make a call is substantial, especially when balanced against all of their various bluffs, particularly at lower stakes where many players may overlook their bluffing frequency. odds of poker hands range.
On the contrary, if we analyze a board showing 2♥️5♥️6♥️J♣️Q♠️, we can begin to comprehend how significantly blockers influence decisions.
- Holding A♣️Q♣️ on this board enables your opponent to potentially hold all Ace-high, Broadway, and suited connector flushes, heightening the severity of their raise.
- While it's inadvisable to base decisions solely on blockers, there are indeed circumstances where blockers can guide you toward a particular choice, especially in close calls.
How Valuable Are My Blockers?
For instance, if you hold the A♣️ on a board of 3♣️5♣️6♣️J♦️K♦️, you block the A-high flushes, simultaneously allowing you to represent those hands yourself. Although this might seem like a solid rationale for bluffing, it could backfire against a calling station or if your player image suggests a reckless style.
As is often the case in poker, the true impact of blockers can fluctuate based on your opponent, but a simple guideline applies:
The more pivotal your blockers are, the greater influence they should hold over a close decision-making process.
Having now covered the ins and outs of blockers, here’s a true or false quiz to test your understanding.
Blocker in Poker: QUIZ – Scroll down for answers
1: Blockers rely on identifiable cards, not conjectures.
2: Community cards and exposed cards can serve as blockers as well.
3: If you are aware of a card’s location, your opponent cannot have it.
5: Holding an ace cuts the odds of your opponent possessing Pocket Aces by 50%.
4: There are 169 unique poker hands.
6: Before you dive into blockers, ask yourself: what exactly is a blocker bet in poker?
7: Every suited hand comprises FOUR combinations.
8: Blockers prove advantageous in both preflop and postflop scenarios.
9: While blockers are helpful, they shouldn’t be the only factor in making a bluff.
10: The value of blockers can be influenced by opponent behavior and game flow.
3: True (unless they expose it themselves)
Blocker in Poker – QUIZ Answers
1: True
2: True
Dan O’Callaghan is a professional poker player who began his journey in online poker under the name danshreddies. He has accumulated over $290K in earnings from online play.
4: False
5: True
6: False
7: True
8: True
9: True
10: True
See Also
Stud , Omaha , Hold’em , Bluffcatch , Bluff , Blocker bet , Range , Combination , Flush , Postflop , Board , Call , Fold , Raise , Action