Showdown Value
Showdown value is the ability of a hand to win at showdown without further betting or a bluff. A hand with showdown value is usually a pair or a medium-strength hand that may be best.
The simple explanation
If your hand is good enough to win when the cards are shown, it has showdown value. A hand such as middle pair often has showdown value: you do not want to bluff with it, but you can check and call.
A closer look
Showdown value is important for planning a line. Hands with showdown value should often check on the river to get to a showdown cheaply, instead of betting and facing a raise. Hands without it, such as missed draws, are the natural bluffing candidates. Whether a hand has showdown value depends on the board and the opponent's range.
A practical example
On a board of J♦ 8♦ 3♣ 7♠ 2♠, a pair of eights has showdown value, while ace-queen high does not.
Full explanation
Showdown value is the ability of a hand to win at showdown without further betting or a bluff. A hand with showdown value is usually a pair or a medium-strength hand that may be best.
Showdown value is the ability to win at showdown as it is.
Medium pairs often have it.
Hands with showdown value usually check, not bluff.
Hands without it are bluffing candidates.
Alternative spelling: SDV
Win by checking to showdown
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
B has a pair of eights; A has only ace high. B can win at showdown without bluffing.
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).
- River · Pot: 12 chips
B has a pair of eights; A has only ace high. B can win at showdown without bluffing.
Board: KKing of clubs (Kc)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of spades (3s)22 of hearts (2h)99 of clubs (9c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 88 of hearts (8h)66 of diamonds (6d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 12 chips
Board: KKing of clubs (Kc)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of spades (3s)22 of hearts (2h)99 of clubs (9c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 88 of hearts (8h)66 of diamonds (6d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 12 chips
A checks behind. B’s pair of eights wins without a bet or bluff: this hand has showdown value.
Board: KKing of clubs (Kc)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of spades (3s)22 of hearts (2h)99 of clubs (9c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 88 of hearts (8h)66 of diamonds (6d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.