In my big bet game I tend to pot or check (or checkraise pot). Previous wisdom held that this is a balanced fashion of playing.

Now I have thought about this and don't think it holds.

A few problems I see with the check or pot strategy:

1) I fail to keep the pot size controlled when it's appropriate. If I get raised on some hands I simply cannot call because the raise is too large. Had I bet smaller, there would be a lot more play in the hand, giving me opportunities to call and bluff (in position), or draw to a hand cheaper.

2) I miss value on hands. People might be willing to call a small/medium bet but not a pot bet with hands I can beat, especially on the river.

3) When I am bluffing I put bets in that could achieve the same thing if they were a smaller size. If I get action I lose more than I need to. When I bet pot when bluffing, I need to win the pot more often than if I bet a smaller size to show a profit.

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Question:

What strategies can be employed to improve upon this way of betting?

I agree with you that the pot/check strategy has flaws. You should be able to find appropriate bet sizing in these games that would suit your desired action. Having said that, I usually pot flops and turns if I'm nutted and want to build a pot and/or price out redraws, or if I have a huge equity drawing hand and want to get it in.

You obviously don't need to pot dry boards with nut full/top set etc. But, checking is usually a mistake. It's very hard to flop the unbeatable nuts in Omaha, but that's probably the only time I'd check. Even then, it's usually best to bet SOMETHING.

Say you hold AA32 on A77 two-tone flop. You will get action from the guy with a 7, or numerous other low draws, or even the guy drawing dead with a flush draw, so why not bet? And obviously, potting would be overkill and possibly convince someone their 7 (or low/flush draw) is no good, whereas a smaller bet might look like a "feeler" bet another 7, or 32, etc.

Ex. You hold AAKQ on A73 rainbow. You obviously don't want to check as there are numerous gutshots, two pair combos, and low draws that might pay you off, but potting might deter a call from a hand with literally no equity. Also, a guy holding 7754 here will not only call, but probably pot and try to get it in, so betting pot isn't necessary, because he ain't folding anyways, and will drive your action for you.

Balance value bet sizing with bluff bet sizing for the win.

7754 has you crushed, strong one-way hands don't play very well HU. The only hope for our hand is if the pot is big already or if he bets it too lightly in proportion to the pot. He's about a 2:1 favorite, maybe even less if hes single or double suited.

AA-hi-hi on an A-lo-lo board is really dangerous and kinda misleading. Top set looks so strong, but chances are good that they have lo locked up already and are freerolling you for a straight or flush.