Parkman Defense
The Parkman Defense is a defensive strategy employed in the game of poker by a player who is trying to protect their own chip stack while still maintaining a chance of winning the pot. This method was developed by poker champion, Allen Parkman, and is used by both professional and amateur players alike.
When using the Parkman Defense, the player’s goal is to establish a pot with a sufficient value so that opponents will be unlikely to commit their chips to the pot and therefore unlikely to win the pot, despite having marginally better cards. This is accomplished by raising the pot size to an amount which, while it may not be so large that an opponent will be needlessly tempted to commit all their chips, will still be sufficient to reduce their pool of probable winning combinations to a level where their implied odds are lower than desired. This leaves the player with the opportunity to continue betting and, with the help of better cards, eventually win the pot.
When playing against an opponent using the Parkman Defense, opponents should look for opportunities to re-raise or even call and put in more chips to build the pot. While this will reduce their chances of winning the pot in the end, if they thought they had the best hand they should still consider committing more chips as they may still be able to draw out the opponent and eventually win the pot.
There are a few key points to keep in mind when playing against an opponent using the Parkman Defense. First, opponents should try to narrow the range of cards the player is likely to have based on the betting action they have taken. Second, opponents should consider if their implied odds justify committing more chips to the pot. And third, opponents should watch for any signs of strength from the player that might indicate a strong hand.
The Parkman Defense is a great tool for poker players to employ when trying to protect their own stack. It allows them to induce their opponents to commit more chips to the pot, while still giving them a chance at winning the pot if they hit their hand. While this does increase the risk of losing more chips if the strategy fails, it can pay off in the long run when the player’s opponents are less likely to call with a semi-bluff.