Value Cutting
Value cutting is betting for value with a hand you believe is best, and being called or raised only by a stronger hand. You cut the value of your own bet, because only better hands pay.
The simple explanation
You bet because you expect a worse hand to call. If only better hands call, your bet was a mistake, since you lose chips. It usually happens when your opponent has a stronger range than you thought.
A closer look
Value cutting often happens on the river, with medium-strength hands such as top pair against a player who rarely calls without a strong hand. To avoid it, ask what worse hands your opponent can call with, and check if the answer is nothing. Against tight opponents, a river check can be better than a bet, since you can still win at showdown. Value cutting is the opposite of a thin value bet that works.
A practical example
You bet the river with top pair for value. Your opponent, a tight player, raises, and he has two pair. Your bet was value cutting.
Full explanation
Value cutting is betting for value with a hand you believe is best, and being called or raised only by a stronger hand. You cut the value of your own bet, because only better hands pay.
Value cutting means betting a hand that only better hands will call.
You lose chips when the opponent has a stronger hand.
It happens often with medium hands on the river.
Value cutting
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A pairs the king. Player B pairs the seven.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player A bets 6.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 24 chips
Player B calls.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Turn · Pot: 24 chips
The turn is a three.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 24 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 24 chips
Player A checks.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 24 chips
The river is a seven, and Player B now has three sevens.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)77 of diamonds (7d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 24 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)77 of diamonds (7d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 36 chips
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)77 of diamonds (7d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 176 · In this round 12
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 72 chips
Player B raises to 36. Player A bet for value but was raised by a better hand. Betting a hand that only a better one calls is value cutting.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)77 of diamonds (7d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 176 · In this round 12
- Player B BB AAce of hearts (Ah)77 of spades (7s) · Stack 152 · In this round 36
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.