The Anatomy Of A Value Bet
No limit hold em cash
games are all about maximizing profit and
winning the most amount of money that you can
each time you take down a pot. This is done in a
lot of different ways which add up to being
profitable, but one thing players often don't do
enough of, is value betting.
Value Betting
Basics
When you have the best hand
and you think you are going to get called, this
is when you make a value bet. Players may mix up
their play with an over-bet which they hope
appears as a bluff, however usually the best way
to get the most chips out of your opponents is
to make smaller bets in relation to the pot,
which are easier to call.
When To Value
Bet
Value betting should be
used when you are fully confident that you have
the best hand and you are not going to get any
action from your opponents if the bet is too
big. You will usually make your value bets on
the river, because at this point in the hand you
should know exactly where you are at, and in
this situation, know your hand is best. There
are too many variables in regards to draws, etc
before the river to make this play effective.
Let's look at the
value bet in action
You are playing $1/2
NLHE. You find yourself in the big blind, and
are holding 9c-10s. Your opponent in middle
position makes it $10 to go and you make the
call. The flop hits as A-10-2, rainbow. You
check to your opponent, who makes it $15, to
which you call. The turn comes as a 4, and you
check again, your opponent checks behind here.
You may already have the best hand, but are
likely up against a weak ace. Another 10 hits
the river and you are in a great spot to value
bet. You will be tempted to get tricky, but just
like every situation, you need to consider the
scenario, and how you can get maximum value with
the value bet versus checking and trying to
trap.
If they missed, and were
trying to bluff at the ace on the flop, then you
are not going to see
any action from them on the river, as they
checked the turn. If you check to try and trap
here, you will likely see them check behind, if
you make a small value bet, then you may get
paid off if the opponent is holding any small
pair or better.
If Your Opponent
Holds An Ace
You will have been showing
some sort of strength through the hand by having
called your opponents bets. If you check the
river here, you are probably going to see them
check behind you. If you bet small here, his or
her hand is going to be to strong not to call
with, especially since you checked the turn. You
need to size your bets properly when you get
into situations like this. Betting less than
half of the size of the pot here will give your
opponent pretty good odds to make a call,
because he will feel you are making this play
with a small ace of your own, a small pair, or
you are simply trying to value bluff him. This
will add up to you getting paid off.
Your Opponent
Also Holds A Ten
If your opponent has a ten
as well, and happens to have a better kicker,
you are obviously stuck between a rock and a
hard place. You may be able to get away from
your hand here with a value bet because you will
know where you are at. If you check to him and
he shoves it all in, you might want to make the
call here, as your opponent has perceived you as
weak given the flow of the hand. If you make a
small bet and get raised all in, you may be able
to get away from it since you showed strength
with your bet and they still came over the top.
Obviously this is not an easy situation no
matter the action, but having a good idea of how
your opponent plays both in general and in this
situation could save you some money.
Always value bet when
you feel you have the best hand and feel the
conditions are right. Checking and trapping like
the big boys on TV can be very tempting, but in
the long run, the value bet is what will
steadily increase your profits.
|
