Fold Equity
The value gained from the possibility that your opponent will fold to your bet or raise. A key component of bluffing.
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What Is Fold Equity?
Fold equity represents the additional expected value a bet or raise gains purely from the chance that an opponent folds, on top of any equity the bettor has if called. It is central to semi-bluffing and pure bluffing strategies, and it increases as a player's perceived range, bet sizing, and opponent's tendency to fold rise.
Examples
A player semi-bluffs an all-in with a flush draw, gaining fold equity on top of the hand's raw equity if called.
A tight opponent's high fold-to-3-bet percentage gives a player significant fold equity when 3-betting against them.
Strategy Tips
Estimate your opponent's likely folding frequency before committing chips as a bluff, using reads, stats, or general population tendencies as a guide. Combine fold equity with genuine hand equity whenever possible by semi-bluffing rather than bluffing with completely dead hands. Increase your fold equity by choosing bet sizes and lines that appear consistent with a strong, credible range. Be cautious of relying on fold equity against calling stations or opponents with low fold-to-aggression stats, since your bluffs will show a much lower success rate against them.