Betting XP

Poker Strategy: Bluffing and Value Betting

Poker is a game of personalities. Knowing your adversaries' characteristics is as vital to winning as knowing your own hand. How you play depends not just on the cards you have, but on whom you are playing against. The same act can serve different purposes against different opponents. In this article, we will look at two poker strategies - bluffing and value betting - and how to use them against what types of players.

Bluffing and Value Betting Explained

Bluffing

These techniques are polar opposites even though the external act is the same. (See what we mean by how the same act can mean different things?) Bluffing is perhaps the most recognizable feature of poker. What it means is you bet hoping other players will think you have a hand they can't beat, and thus fold.

You can bluff with a weak hand (like 8-9). Or you can bet with a promising, yet still incomplete, hand (like four cards to a straight). The former is a "full" bluff and the latter is a "semi" bluff. With a full bluff, you pray to the heavens they will fold. With a semi bluff, you can still win by making the hand late even if you're called.

Value Betting

Value betting or betting for value is the opposite of bluffing. It's when you bet knowing or believing that you have the best hand on the table. You are betting on the value of your hand. If the game comes to a showdown, you are likely to win. Even if you don't, the point is that you wagered thinking you could win.

Contrary to popular thought, most of poker - in particular, Texas Holdem poker - is won with value betting, not bluffing. Bluffing can work only if it isn't done too often. Most of your wins will come from betting on the value of good hands.

How to Use Bluffs and Value Bets

Bluffing

When you understand the purpose of these techniques, you will know where to play them and with whom. In bluffing, your goal is to make other players fold. So your target for that is…?

THOSE WHO FOLD EASILY!

And who are they? The rocks! The tight players! And where do you find them? In tight tables!

If you want to try your hand at bluffing (pun intended), look for tight tables. Those where players often fold preflop and few ever make it to the showdown. Bluff those who only need a little nudging to fold. Because tight players only play with good hands though, take cover when someone raises or re-raises to you. To be safe, bluff from a late position or on the button only.

Value Betting

As bluffing requires tight opponents, so value betting needs loose ones. Play in loose poker tables. Since you have a great hand, you want more players to call or raise your bets so more money can go to the pot. Don't be afraid to raise against even maniacs (loose aggressive types) if you know you have a monster. Chances are they are betting to you with a weak hand.

One warning though: Be aggressive only with GOOD hands. Why? Because they are calling stations. They'll call you with any hand. So don't try to pick a fight (er, pot) unless you have the nuts to do so.

Bluffing and value betting are useful techniques. Hopefully these tips will help you use them in your next poker hands. Enjoy the game and bet wisely!