A loose definition of controlling the pot is: keeping the pot small with mediocre hands and enlarge the pot with big hands. This is usually done by using position to out play opponents.

Example 1
You have on a flop of . An opponent bets pot into you and you raise pot.

Basically you are doing this to be able to control the pot and to react depending on what turns. The raise most likely means your opponent will check to you on the turn so if you brick everything your hand becomes much weaker so you can check and keep the pot small. However, if you hit something your hand will become dominant so you can bet again to increase the size of the pot.


Example 2
You have on a flop of . An opponent bets pot into you and you call.

Here your draw is strong but your overall hand is weak. Most likely you barely have pot odds to call this bet, but if you keep the pot small you will have implied odds to call. Here you are controlling the pot by calling in order to not invest a lot of money with a mediocre hand and to increase your implied odds on later streets.


Example 3
You have on a flop of . It checks around. The turn is the , and it is checked to you.

Your hand is pretty weak but nobody else has shown strength, so you bet 3/4 pot. This bet is both a steal attempt and controlling the pot. Most likely even if this bet get calls it will enable you to check behind on the river with your weak hand.


Hope this helps.