A value bet is a bet you make because you expect to be called by worse hands more often than by better ones. The goal is not to make your opponent fold — it is to get paid.
A value bet example
You hold A♠ Q♠ on a board of Q♦ 8♣ 4♥ 2♠ 7♦. Your opponent called on the flop and turn. On the river you bet $40 into $80. Hands like QJ, QT, 88-with-a-weak-kicker, and pocket nines or tens may call. That is a value bet.
The value-betting test
Before you bet, ask: if my opponent calls, will I be ahead more than half the time? If yes, it is a value bet. If they only call with better hands, check instead.
Thin value
A thin value bet is a bet with a hand that is only slightly ahead of the calling range, such as second pair against a player who calls with any pair. Thin value is where a lot of money is made against loose players and lost against tight ones.
How big to value bet
- Against calling stations, bet bigger: they call anyway.
- With thin value, bet smaller so that weaker hands can still call.
- With the nuts on a scary board, consider an overbet.
The bet sizing calculator helps compare sizes. Browse the poker glossary for more terms.