Value bet
A bet made with what you believe is the best hand, sized so that worse hands will still call. The opposite of a bluff, and where most winning players make most of their profit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a value bet in poker?
A bet made with a hand you expect to be ahead of the hands that will call. The goal is the opposite of a bluff: you want the call, not the fold.
How do you know a hand is worth value betting?
Ask what calls. If the hands that continue are mostly worse than yours, bet. If the only hands that call beat you, checking is better — that is the difference between a value bet and paying off a stronger range.
What is thin value?
Betting a hand that is only slightly ahead of the calling range — a middling pair on the river, say. Those bets are uncomfortable and are where much of a strong player's edge actually lives, because most opponents check them and win nothing.