Bet Amounts

[Zybomb]

So Im wondering -- what makes a top poker player different from a solid player...like some of us on this site. You know, someone who seems to have basic preflop strategy downpact -- he raises calls and folds when he is supposed to, he plays a solid tight aggressive game, etc..... and plays well post flop... he knows all the basics such as raising for information, representing hands, potential scare cards etc. So where do the top players get that extra edge?

What I think it comes down to is two simple things.

The first of which is a solid read. This naturally allows players to steal pots if they have a strong idea of what their opponent is on and how strong his hand is. This is hard to teach (if someone knows please tell) not to mention that 'online players' (although I have become a significantly larger live player in the past 6 months) don't really have much to go on outside of notes and betting patterns.... so ok yea, maybe the top players do keep solid notes, and can see through predictable betting patterns a little better.... but I don't think that's enough to give them an edge.

The second thing is what I think is... it's bet amounts. If I could get one thing up in my game it's bet amounts. Meaning getting paid on my made hands just a little more than you would, giving me an extra earning (or extra tournament chips) Im talking about the amount Im Betting when I have a draw, or a made hand, or a monster, with 2 or 3 or 4 people in the pot etc. Am I getting everything out of you that I can? And Am I hiding my hand well with confusing and perhaps contradiciting bets?

I think it is this that seperates the top players from the overall solid ones...extracting that extra bit of money when they have hands (and not losing that extra bit of money when they don't). Knowing how much is the most their opponent will call and betting that exact amount when they want a call, and knowing what amount their opponents simply can not call and betting that amount on bluffs.

I realize this is a very general statement here, and there are too many situations to even attempt to create some.... but can anyone provide any discussion or insight into adjusting your bet amounts for maximum extraction?