Value Bet
A bet made with a strong hand, sized to get called by weaker hands. The goal is to extract maximum chips.
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What Is Value Bet?
Value betting requires estimating what worse hands an opponent might still call with, then choosing a bet size that maximizes the amount extracted from those hands without pricing them out entirely. It's one half of a balanced betting strategy, complemented by bluffs made with the same sizing to keep opponents guessing.
Examples
Betting a flopped set on a dry board to extract chips from top pair.
Value betting the river with two pair against a range that still contains one-pair hands.
Strategy Tips
Size your value bets according to how much worse hands in your opponent's range are likely to call -- a bet too large may only get called by better hands, while a bet too small leaves value on the table. Consider betting all three streets when you have a strong hand and a wide range of worse hands can still call you down. Balance your value betting range with bluffs of similar sizing so observant opponents can't simply fold to big bets and call small ones. Adjust your value betting frequency and sizing based on opponent type -- bet bigger and more often for value against calling stations, and be more selective against tighter, more disciplined players.