Before I came to BTP, I used to steal pots by betting the flop. In and of itself, betting the pot on the flop is an excellent tool for increasing your winnings.

What I didn't know before reading posts was how many other benefits come from betting the pot. You are much better off betting the pot on the flop not only because you might steal it, but also because it defines where you are in the hand. You are forcing your opponent to either fold or give you information. This is invisible EV.

Gaining information allows you to maximize your value bets later AND allows you to limit losses when you are behind, particularly huge all-in losses. If you read the posts of the great players on this site, you'll notice how this is almost instinctive to them.

To prove a point, here's an example from the $1000 NL rooms

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

($2790)
UTG+1 ($2277)
MP1 ($2000)
MP2 ($4359)
MP3 ($2017)
CO ($2000)
Button ($2768)
SB ($403.50)
BB ($1165.50)

Preflop: MP1 has MP2 has

Flop: ($50) , , (9 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, CO checks.

Turn: ($50) (9 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 bets $125, MP2 raises to $250, CO folds, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 raises to $800, MP2 calls $550.

River: ($1650) (6 players)
MP1 calls $1180 (All-In), MP2 calls $1180.

Final Pot: $4010

MP2 decided not to bet the pot, in favor of slowplaying. However, when the heat started coming, MP2 could neither fold his hand nor beat his opponent. Yuck! Betting the flop might not have pushed out MP1, but MP2 should have been able to read that his set was no good anymore, saving him about $1800.

LESSON: BTP because you can:
1) steal pots
2) make it difficult for opponents to draw.
3) define your hand on the flop and get information on your opponent. This maximizes gains and minimizes losses.
Tim

So true.

If he bets the pot and gets a flat call the turn can really help him slow down.

Here's a good example of BTP from today with the crazy fishes at Party NL$50:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

CO ($47.85)
Button ($48.75)
SB ($38.89)
BB ($23.45)
UTG ($32.35)
UTG+1 ($57.28)
Hero ($71.60)
MP1 ($44.50)
MP2 ($61.75)
MP3 ($51.65)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.5, MP1 calls $1.50, 2 folds, CO calls $1.50, 3 folds.

Flop: ($5.25) , , (3 players)
Hero bets $5, MP1 calls $5, CO calls $5.

2 Callers? Uh-oh, I gotta watch for a heart draw or a set here. No free cards, so I gotta push here else they'll get a cheap River after paying for the Turn.

Turn: ($20.25) (3 players)
Hero bets $38, MP1 calls $38 (All-In), CO calls $41.35 (All-In), Hero calls $3.35.

2 callers again?!? Oh I'm toast...

River: ($140.95) (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $140.95

Results in white below:
Hero has Ac Ad (two pair, aces and fives).
MP1 has 6d Jd (two pair, jacks and fives).
CO has Ah Th (one pair, fives).
Outcome: Hero wins $140.94.

Yup, heart draw (thanks for not hitting it after your long deliberation) and TPWK. Sure I made a weak PFR of 3x BB, but, wow, Jd6d?!? That's Party NL50, I suppose. Who had correct odds to call my bets?

Not JT, J6.