Get Full Value
To get full value is to bet, raise or re-raise with the intention of winning as much as possible from a strong hand.
The simple explanation
When you have a very good hand, you want the others to put in as many chips as they will. Getting full value means making bets they will call.
A closer look
The problem is to find the right size. A bet that is too big folds out worse hands, and a bet that is too small leaves money on the table. Look at the board, your opponent's style and the possible hands he can call with. Missing value is a common leak among cautious players.
A practical example
You hold A♥ A♦ on a board of A♣ 8♠ 3♦ and bet a size that a weaker ace or a pair of eights can call.
Full explanation
To get full value is to bet, raise or re-raise with the intention of winning as much as possible from a strong hand.
Getting full value means winning the most from a strong hand.
Choose a bet size that the opponent can call.
Too big and he folds, too small and you lose money.
Missing value is a common leak.
A value bet
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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A pairs the king.
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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · 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 JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 38 chips
Player A bets 14.
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 174 · In this round 14
- Player B BB JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 52 chips
Player B calls.
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 174 · In this round 14
- Player B BB JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 174 · In this round 14
- River · Pot: 52 chips
The river is a nine.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)99 of diamonds (9d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 174 · In this round 0
- Player B BB JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 174 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 52 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)99 of diamonds (9d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 174 · In this round 0
- Player B BB JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 174 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 82 chips
Player A bets 30 with top pair. He thinks that a worse hand, such as a smaller pair, will call. A bet made to get called by worse hands is a value bet.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)33 of hearts (3h)99 of diamonds (9d)
- Player A BTN / SB KKing of diamonds (Kd)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 144 · In this round 30
- Player B BB JJack of clubs (Jc)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 174 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.