On Value Bets
June 29, 2009
Sure, any poker player knows how to bet when they’re holding the nuts. It’s a no-brainer that anyone can do—from beginner to the expert poker player. But getting maximum value out of marginal hands is more difficult and this is what separates a good poker player from an average player.
When value betting, always keep in mind what game you are playing. Yes, it does make a difference. When playing Limit Hold’em, you should always be aggressive when it comes to betting. As the bets are usually small compared to the pot, people will often call you even if they are holding marginal hands.
It’s much more difficult employing value bets when playing No Limit. You must be good enough to put a player to a hand. This ensures that you are indeed ahead and also enables you to figure out the correct amount to bet. You must also be able to figure out what kind of player your opponent is. If your opponent is a newbie, the key is to bet an amount that is big enough as to not waste your hand, but small enough to entice a call.
If your opponent is a veteran, however, you need to rethink the situation. It really isn’t as simple as that. Strong players are trying to put you to a hand, the very same way that you are trying to put them to a hand. So don’t just bet according to your cards. You should bet according to what your opponent thinks you have.
There really is no way to teach the art of value betting and the best way to learn this skill is to practice. Given enough time and experience, if you are really serious about poker and as long as you keep going up against good poker players, you will figure it out. But if you make a conscious effort to figure it out faster, this will help your game exponentially.
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