Value Bet
A value bet is a bet that you make with a hand that you expect to be best, so that a worse hand will call it. The aim is to win more chips from weaker hands.
The simple explanation
If you hold a strong hand, you want opponents to put money in. You bet an amount that a weaker hand will call. This is the opposite of a bluff, where you want a better hand to fold.
A closer look
Good value bets are sized for what the opponent is willing to call. If you bet too much, only better hands call, and you cut your own value. If you bet too little, you leave chips on the table. A thin value bet is a bet with a hand that is only slightly ahead of the calling range. On the river, you must ask: 'What worse hands call me?' If the answer is none, you should not bet for value.
A practical example
On the river you hold top pair and bet 30 into a pot of 60, hoping that a smaller pair will call. That is a value bet.
Full explanation
A value bet is a bet that you make with a hand that you expect to be best, so that a worse hand will call it. The aim is to win more chips from weaker hands.
A value bet is a bet that is meant to be called by worse hands.
It is the opposite of a bluff.
Choose a size that worse hands will call.
Ask what worse hands will call before you bet.
Alternative spelling: value-bet, valuebet
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.