Donk Bet
A bet made out of position into the previous round's aggressor. Called a 'donk bet' because it's traditionally considered a weak play, though it has strategic applications.
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What Is Donk Bet?
Traditionally viewed as a mistake because it gives up the initiative and information advantage that checking to the aggressor provides, donk betting has since been recognized as a legitimate tool in certain spots, particularly on boards that favor the caller's range over the raiser's range. Modern solver-based analysis shows donk betting can be effective for protecting strong hands or denying equity on wet boards where the preflop caller has range advantage.
Examples
After calling a preflop raise, a player leads out on a flop of 7-6-5 with two hearts, a board that favors their calling range, rather than checking to the raiser.
A recreational player habitually bets into the raiser regardless of board texture, a classic sign of an unbalanced donk-betting strategy.
Strategy Tips
Use donk bets selectively on board textures where your range as the preflop caller has a clear equity or nut advantage over the raiser's range, such as low, connected boards. Avoid donk betting as a default habit, since doing so without a coherent range strategy is easily exploitable. When facing a donk bet from a recreational player, pay attention to bet sizing and frequency, as many donk bettors have strong, non-bluffing ranges. Study solver outputs or training tools to identify the specific board textures where donk betting is theoretically sound rather than relying on instinct alone.