Bet types - the overbet

Introduction

In this article:

• Overbets explained
  
• When and how to use them
• How to balance an overbet
  

The overbet is a type of bet that is quite rare in poker. Therefore many players don't quite know how to use them. At the end of this article you will know all about overbets.

When and against who can you use an overbet, and what is the reasoning behind it. These aspects will be explained in the following section.

Defining the overbet

The definition of an overbet is choosing a bet size that is bigger, sometimes substantially, than the current pot.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
Hero (BU) ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is BU with A, K
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 2 folds, UTG calls $1.25

Flop: ($2.85) A, A, K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $6.00

What is the purpose of the overbet?

As always, there are mainly two possible reasons for the bet:

• Value (you bet to extract value from a worse hand)
• Bluff (you bet in order to get a stronger hand to fold)

Besides these basics, you probably know all the advantages and disadvantages of bets as well as suitable bet and raise sizes. In No-Limit Hold'em, the bet size is usually dictated by the size of the pot. This is of particular importance when cards remain to be dealt, i.e. before the river. In this case there is another important factor to consider:

• Protection: you want to give your opponent "bad" odds so that he makes an incorrect call

Your opponent(s) should not be allowed a cheap draw to see another card, which might help him improve and beat your made hand. With every bet, you offer your opponent odds. You offer him a bet that he either accepts or declines.

You should know by now which pot odds are required to protect against possible draws. In most cases however, maximum protection is achieved by using a bet no larger than pot size.

With a pot size bet you offer your opponents odds of 2 to 1. As a result, it will be hard for your opponents to call with a draw without looking at possible implied odds.

If you now compare these known bets and their purposes with those of an overbet, you will reach the following conclusions:

• 1.) Value
  With an overbet you will extract more value, if your opponent is willing to pay an inflated price with a weaker hand.

• 2.) Bluff
  With a bluff bet you want to create fold equity. With an overbet you create more fold equity than with a smaller bet.

• 3.) Protection
  You give your opponent very bad odds with your overbet. If you are actually running against a drawing hand it would offer you maximum protection.

Besides these factors, you can look at this unusual bet size from a different angle. How do you usually play a semi-bluff? What bet size do you choose? Once again you need to look at all aspects. Your overbet will create more fold equity and it gives you good enough odds against an opponent's push to play bet/call, which would not be appropriate if you chose a smaller bet size.

Besides all aspects of value bets, bluffs and protection, this article will also significantly cover semi-bluffs.

Now you might think the overbet is the perfect solution to many possible poker problems. If this were the case, why does it get used so rarely? It's simple: as usual there are two sides to any argument.

The main problem is that you will rarely know your opponent's exact hand, or what he is willing to pay you off with.

An overbet on the flop for value sounds great, but is no good if it makes your opponent fold every top pair with which he might otherwise have called on two streets. In this way you will not be able to increase your profit in the long run.

An overbet as a bluff for maximum fold equity also sounds promising, but becomes pointless if your opponent calls with hands of medium strength. Suddenly your huge fold equity has turned into a massive pot and you have paid off your opponent.

Consequently, you cannot avoid creating a lot of fold equity against a worse made hand (and not get paid off), nor creating a big pot with a failed bluff against stronger hands.

That's where a very important aspect comes into play: Balancing.

If you want to use the overbet as an effective weapon it should be balanced. Your opponent must not realise whether you use the play with a strong hand to extract value, or with a weak hand to create maximal fold equity. That's where it gets complicated.

Balancing in comparison to the continuation bet

The problems that we have mentioned above apply for all types of bets. The best known and most commonly used bet in post-flop play is the continuation bet.

The size of the continuation bet depends on many factors like type, number of opponents, the board, your hand strength etc. We will not go into detail at this point.

A bet of 2/3 of the pot has been established as a rough guide for continuation bet size.

This value hasn't been set arbitrarily so there is a logical explanation. A continuation bet is meant to achieve the same goals as those mentioned above:

• Extract value with a strong hand
• Create fold equity against better hands like a bluff or semi-bluff
• Protect against drawing hands
• Balancing

A 2/3 pot size bet helps to achieve perfect balancing. Your opponent cannot deduce a certain hand strength from the size of your bet.

You could of course bet 1/4 of the pot every time instead. However, the outcome would be negative.

• The fold equity is reduced and more players would stay in the hand, who  you would rather see eliminated.
• You extract less value with your made hands.
• You offer your opponent good enough odds so that they can stay in the hand with a drawing hand, without having to make an incorrect call.

These problems should be avoided. A bet shouldn't only be balanced, it should also cover all possible eventualities. Especially when your bet is a bluff because you should be aware that your opponent has to fold often enough for the bet to have a positive expected value (+EV).

At the same time you want weaker hands to call, without being confronted with a bet that is too big or too small.

Look at the 2/3 of the pot continuation bet in this example:

You bet $4 into a $6 pot. You bet $4 to win $6. This means your opponent has to fold only 40% of the time to make the bet EV neutral (+/- zero). If he folds twice in five hands, you win the pot of $6 every time he does (a total of $12). If you get called three times you lose $4 every time (a total of $12).

This value should be considered reasonable. What would happen if you bet pot size instead? Your opponent will fold much more frequently. If you only bet 1/4 of the pot, he will rarely let go of his hand and will be more inclined to bluff.

Many factors here support a 2/3 pot bet. It creates enough fold equity on the one hand, and on the other hand it doesn't have to work as often in case we're using it as a pure bluff. It also extracts a significant amount of value (with made hands) from weaker hands, who will be more inclined to call given the "normal" odds. At the same time, your opponent doesn't get very good odds to call with a draw: a 2/3 pot bet gives your opponent odds of 2.5 to 1.

Balancing the overbet – a sign of strength or weakness?

Besides the question of whether you are betting for value or as a bluff, to check if it is possible to balance your overbet is an interesting issue. This will mainly be necessary if you use the overbet quite frequently against the same set of opponents.

In an ideal situation, your opponent won't read anything into your bet size. However, this is difficult to achieve in practice because it doesn't only depend on your bet size, but also on how your opponent views your game.

Look at the overbet as a statement. It will either be looked at as great strength and an attempt to extract maximum value with the best hand, or it will be interpreted as a sign of great weakness and an attempt to produce maximum fold equity.

Overbets pre-flop

Let's have a look at the first street: the pre-flop game. This is your first opportunity for an overbet, mostly in form of a pre-flop shove.

As it doesn't make much sense to place such a 3-bet for 100BB after a simple raise with any hand, it can't really be categorised as an overbet. This situation occurs too frequently for it to make sense to deviate from the "standard" bet size. Also, it would lead to massive balancing issues.

However, there are some spots in which a pre-flop push can be appropriate despite having the option of a normal raise or 3-bet. The following example will look at such possibilities. Aside from the question whether it is being done for value or as a bluff, balancing is the  main focus.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
BU ($25)
Hero (SB) ($25)
BB ($6) (20/6/1.0/31/400) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]

Pre-flop: Hero is SB with A, Q
4 folds, Hero raises All-In, BB folds

In this example we are looking at play against a loose shortstack. Of course we have the option of a normal bet, but you can push directly in these spots.

Compared to playing against a tight calling station, a small pre-flop raise might not create sufficient fold equity in this spot. If the shortstack had VPIP/PFR values of 10/8, you could think about open-raising 3BB every time and winning many small pots this way.

This type of player is more likely to call loosely, which puts you in a tricky out of position spot on the flop. This is why the option of negating the positional disadvantage pre-flop is very attractive, particularly because we don't have the option of outplaying such an opponent after the flop. Aside from the disadvantage of your position, you can't do a lot against his stack. A bluff bet on the turn is not advisable because you would almost put him to go all-in.

You can avoid this problem by directly pushing playable hands. You are mainly doing it for value; you assume that you're ahead and that weaker hands will find a call quite frequently.

Balancing in this case is quite simple because all players will fold before you and as small blind, you will decide first whether to push or fold.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
Hero (CO) ($25)
BU ($25) (30/17/2.0/32/700) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
SB ($25)
BB ($25) (22/19/3.5/27/800) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]

Pre-flop: Hero is CO with A, K
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, BU calls $1.00, SB folds, BB raises to $4.50, Hero raises All-In...

This is a frequently occurring situation. You open raise a strong hand and immediately get called with a squeeze play.

Firstly, address the question of how to proceed with your hand. Even before taking further stats or reads into account, it should be quite clear that this type of player (Big Blind) will use the squeeze play quite frequently. The button on the other hand will call quite frequently, so you should also be ahead against his range.

You decide to definitely go for broke with your hand, which with AK is a mixture of doing it as a bluff and for value. In terms of equity, AK should always be a strong hand, however, you wouldn't mind if a better hand (any pocket pair) folds.

Now there is only one question left: How can you get your money in most elegantly? Place a 4-bet or push directly? In this situation a push is the favourable move for the following reasons. If you open raise and Player X 3-bets you, you usually have three options. You can fold, call or 4-bet.

What you 4-bet with is completely open. You can do it for value or as a bluff. In order to bluff as a 4-bet you have to use a 4-bet size, which allows you to fold to a push from your opponent. This is where a bet of 2.5 to 3 times the bet will assert itself.

This would mean: 4BB Openraise => 12BB 3-Bet => 30BB 4-Bet.

Your opponent now has a difficult decision to make. If he pushes, you would have to pay another 70BB to be involved in a 200BB pot, which also means you need 35% equity for a call.

For AKo this means a call against a very tight range.

Percentages for a pure bluff (above) and a fold (below).

You can see that a bluff will perform well if you manufacture the wrong odds with a 4-bet. Assuming you 4-bet big enough so that half your stack is already in, the amount you have to pay now is so little that even 25% equity is enough for a call. And you never need to fold. Although a situation where you can not fold anymore is not the purpose of your bet.

Now let's apply this to the example above. The pot has grown significantly as a result of the squeeze play. Not just because of the additional 4BB of the caller, but also because of the larger resulting bet size. Let's assume you 4-bet 2.5 times the squeeze bet:

• 4BB Open raise / 4BB Call => 18BB 3-Bet => 45BB 4-Bet (2.5 times the 3-bet)

You would have the problem of only needing 27.5% equity. The result is that due to the large 4-bet of 2.5 times the 3-bet, you cannot play 4-bet/fold.

Your opponent knows that you can't fold after such a 4-bet. Consequently your opponent won't be able to give himself much fold equity to push himself. Hence, a direct push is preferable to such a large 4-bet.

In these spots your game incorporates the overbet as a mutation of the push. The balancing just happens. You push every hand that you want to go all-in with, regardless of whether it's for value or as a bluff.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
Hero (BU) ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($15) (25/25/4.5/22/100) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]

Pre-flop: Hero is BU with J, J
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB folds, BB raises to $3.00, Hero raises All-In

In the last example of pre-flop play both former examples will get merged. Why you should push against such players has been explained in Example No. 2. The reason for a small 4-bet not being of much use has been explained in Example No. 3. You can't balance anything but a push in this spot because it is quite obvious that you won't be able to fold after a 4-bet.

Against such mid-stack players, if you decide to go for broke you should overbet and choose the direct route to the all-in.

Overbets on the flop

While most pre-flop actions are based on maths, play on the flop naturally becomes more tricky.

• You might act out of position
• You might be playing a multiway pot
• You can't directly define your hand strength
• Aside from value bet and bluff you have to look at important aspects such as semi-bluffs, protection or even pot control (it should be obvious that pot control and overbets don't get along).

First you have to think about where you stand with you current hand and then you can start thinking about the overbet.

One of the main aspects to consider is surely protection. Especially in multiway pots it may be sensible to close the deal on the flop using an overbet (or push), to give your opponents impossible odds and force them into making big mistakes.

This is particularly advisable if you think your opponents are capable of making big mistakes when there are many cards that you don't want to see on the turn. Regardless of whether these cards can either really threaten your hand, or have a negative impact on you opponents' willingness to pay.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
Hero (BU) ($25)
SB ($25) (30/10/1.5/30/1000) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
BB ($25) (24/12/2.5/31/1000) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]

Pre-flop: Hero is BU with A , A
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB calls $1.00, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.00) 4, 5, A (3 players)
SB bets $2.25, BB calls $2.25, Hero raises All-in

You are dealing with two players that don't like parting with a made hand or strong draw. The purpose of this push is obvious: value and protection.

You want weaker hands to call you when there are many turn cards that you don't like. As mentioned earlier, a fourth on the turn doesn't necessarily mean you have lost. However, you won't really be able to bet for value because even opponents with strong made hands like 44/55/45/A4/A5 are likely to leave the hand.

You obviously want to avoid this and be as aggressive as possible on the flop.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25) (24/19/2.9/28/1200) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero (BU) ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is BU with A , K
2 folds, CO raises to $1.00, Hero raises to $3.00, 2 folds, CO calls $3.00

Flop: ($6.35) 2, 2, 6 (2 players)
CO bets $4.00, Hero raises All-in

In this spot we will primarily consider playing the hand as a semi-bluff rather than looking at protection and value. You want to create fold equity against better hands but don't have a problem if your opponent finds a call with a medium hand:

Equity analysis
Board	2, 2, 6
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	48.687%	48.687%	0.000%	51.313%	A, K
Player 2	51.313%	51.313%	0.000%	48.687%	99-JJ

Balancing shouldn't be a problem because you can also choose this line with a strong made hand. It will be hard to sell the idea that you might be playing raise/fold in a 3-bet pot as the pre-flop aggressor, because you are obviously giving yourself very good odds for a call. Therefore you can push right away, which has the advantage of creating a lot of fold equity.

Fold equity may be even more important in the following example:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25) (24/19/2.9/28/1200) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero (BU) ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is BU with 4 , 5
2 folds, CO raises to $1.00, Hero raises to $3.00, 2 folds, CO calls $3.00

Flop: ($6.35) Q, 7, 3 (2 players)
CO bets $4.00, Hero raises All-in

Here you are exclusively using fold equity and playing your hand as a pure bluff. You should not use plays like this against unknown opponents too frequently, so please take this example with a pinch of salt. In this case, because you are playing against this particular opponent and because of the reads you have, you have decided to bluff and are trying to decide on the most profitable way of doing it.

And now we have come full circle. Anybody who claims that a normal raise is better because a push is too "obvious", has failed to observe that you might use overbets on the flop with a strong made hand for protection (and value), as well as with strong draws as a semi-bluff or even as a pure bluff.

Consequently, the balancing sorts itself out and all you have to worry about is what purpose your overbet has in each spot, and whether peripheral factors (board, number of opponents, types of opponents) are considered for the move.

Playing against shorties and mid-stacks

Now that you have read about how to play against big stacks, it should almost be obvious that you'd be even more willing to get all your money in using an overbet against smaller stacks. If you tend to consider bluffing, you only have to be careful with mid-stack calling stations.

Aside from their almost complete inability to fold a made hand, they get better odds for a call because of their smaller stack size. You should probably refrain from using a controversial play as in Example No. 7 against such opponents.

You should definitely use semi-bluffs however. You will hardly be able to avoid using this aggressive play against shorter stacks when you want to create maximum fold equity.

Overbets on the turn

We don't need any further examples for overbets on the turn. The main points are:

• Value
• Bluff
• Semi-bluff
• Protection

and they have the same importance that they do on the flop.

However, you need to pay attention to the changing circumstances. A value bet is still a value bet, but now you have to take the three other factors into account, especially since there is only one street left and the remaining stacks have become smaller.

Consequently, a bluff has to create a lot of fold equity. There should be an explanation for why an overbet is not used on the flop. Does the way the story of the hand unfolds make sense?

Similarly, all of this applies to the semi bluff. Although in this case you need to take into account that your equity has become weaker, because there is only one street left to deal. If you do hit on the turn you can obviously use the overbet as a value bet.

Overbets on the river

Overbets on the river need to be looked at separately.

First of all one thing is obvious - there are only two possible reasons for placing an overbet on the river:

• As a bluff
• For value

Semibluffs and protection have lost their meaning because no cards remain to be dealt. You and your opponent know that an overbet on the river either seeks to extract maximum value from a weaker hand, or maximum fold equity against a stronger hand.

First and foremost this depends on your opponent. An overbet for value is most suitable against a calling station. An overbet as a bluff however, is more appropriate against a tight opponent; ideally a rock who folds made hands on the river.

For a river shove to be profitable several conditions need to be met:

• Your hand is very strong
• Your opponent tends to call with weaker hands
• The board should offer many opportunities for players to have hit strong hands

E.g: flush on straight boards or full house on flush boards are very suitable

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
Hero (BU) ($25)
SB ($25) (30/10/0.9/32/1100) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
BB ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is BU with 8 , 8
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB calls $1.00, 1 fold

Flop: ($2.25) 5, 6, 7 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50 , SB calls

Turn: ($5.25) 6 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3.50 , SB calls

River: ($12.25) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets All-in

This is the perfect example. You are dealing with a very loose opponent who is very willing to get to the showdown. On the river you essentially hold the nuts, but there are many hands that your opponent is very unlikely to fold. In this range he will have hands like a straight, a flush or even a smaller full house. You should also remember that with this type of opponent even hands like TT+ / 6x are possible.

He won't fold many of these hands; definitely few enough for a push to be profitable.

The question of balancing is only of secondary importance here.

• Your opponent is a fish
• Relatively speaking you will rarely play on the river ( compared to pre-flop or flop)
• Better players will see that you are extracting value from a calling station and will rarely read into it because they won't think you'd play the same line against them.

Balancing isn't really an issue because a bluff on the river with a weak hand does not make much sense against this particular opponent.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
Hero (MP) ($25)
CO ($25) (15/12/2.0/25/1550) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
BU ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is MP with 6 , 7
1 fold, Hero raises to $1.00, CO calls $1.00, 3 folds

Flop: ($2.35) 9, 8, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.50 , SB calls

Turn: ($5.35) K (2 players)
Hero bets $3.50 , SB calls

River: ($12.35) A (2 players)
Hero bets All-in , SB folds

In this case the situation has been reversed. You don't have a made hand on the river but you are playing against an opponent who you think will  fold a weak made hand.

You want to create maximum fold equity to force your opponent to fold better hands. The developments on the board will most likely help you, because you can use the turn and river as scare cards.

A bluff is also advisable because you won't beat anything in a showdown. On this board there are many possible draws against which you are still behind (i.e. JTo, Q J etc.).

Drawing hands that include an ace (like A 5), which have made a top pair on the river, are also possible. You want maximum fold equity and to avoid prompting these hands into making an easy decision.

Overbets in unraised pots:

Overbets also give you an advantage against weak opponents in unraised pots. Two new goals, different to those in an normal raised pot, are the following:

• Value
• Pot building

Weak opponents start making mistakes in pre-flop play, when they forget to protect even their strong hands. Post-flop, they really dislike letting a made hand go. With these opponents you have to try and extract maximum value, possible by carefully using overbets.

Every overbet significantly increases the size of the pot for the following street, and you will notice this big difference. Included in this category are "simple overbets" in the region of 1.2 - 1.5 times the current pot.

In the following examples, compare two hands against the same opponent. You will notice the big difference between a normal bet and an overbet.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25) (40/5/1.0/33/600) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
MP ($25)
CO ($25) (37/2/0.8/35/750) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
BU ($25)
SB ($25)
Hero (BB) ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is BB with T , 7
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.85) T, 7, 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $0.65, 1 fold, CO calls $0.65

Turn: ($2.15) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.50 , CO calls $1.50

River: ($5.15) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $4.00 , CO calls $4.00

Final Pot: $13.15

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25) (40/5/1.0/33/600) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
MP ($25)
CO ($25) (37/2/0.8/35/750) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
BU ($25)
SB ($25)
Hero (BB) ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is BB with T , 7
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.85) T, 7, 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $1.30, 1 fold, CO calls $1.30

Turn: ($3.45) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $5.00 , CO calls $5.00

River: ($13.45) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $18.45 (All-in) , CO calls $18.45

Final Pot: $50.35

The difference between Pot 1 and Pot 2 is extreme. On every street you bet "just" over the pot size, without ever betting over 1.5 times the pot. Still in this way you manage to win the whole stack off your 'fishy' opponent instead of a $13 pot.

The question is: What is he calling us down with? Is it worth it?

With these players there are two important factors. One has already been mentioned; their pre-flop play is usually flawed so you can never count out hands like AA/KK/QQ/JJ which they will never fold.

The other factor is that such players love to overplay their top pairs. They won't want to cause much action with hands like AT/KT-, but they will not want to fold them either.

Against these hands you goal is certainly to bet as much as possible, to increase the pot size so that you can get the rest of your stack in on the river.

When you look at these points it probably is obvious that this play is particularly profitable against players who tend to call down or make a lot of moves. Calling stations are therefore our most suitable victims, although we can sometimes also target maniacs with this play.

Besides value play and pot building, you obviously also protect your hand. However, one problem occurs when using the play with a draw (like a flush draw). You cannot be sure that even overbets will help you to win the pot often enough.

This means that you should play draws rather passively and refrain from using pure bluffs altogether against several possibly weak players. On the other hand, you indirectly have the problem that you can't balance this play. An overbet in an unraised pot, when you are trying to get all-in by the river, will almost always be a value play.

However, this isn't a problem at all. Against these players you don't have to balance. You are better off playing straightforward. Disregard the balancing in this case. You will probably never run into this fish again and even if you do he is unlikely to pay much attention.

Summary

Today you have learned about the pros and cons, as well as the main uses for overbets. It can be a useful weapon, but you always have to give your reason for using it some thought. Value, protection, bluff, semi-bluff or pot building can all be valid arguments for using an overbet, but they have to be carefully weighed up against each other.

Balancing your lines in pre-flop and post-flop play is very important, especially against good players, because these situations occur quite frequently. Don't always use the overbet (or push) only as a (semi) bluff or only for value; make sure you balance your play.

In the last section you saw that particularly against call-happy, weak players, there is no point trying to balance anything. You can play for pot building directly and simply try to extract maximum value from the one hand.

LINKS
Related articles: Betting types - why do you bet? Bet sizes - how much do you bet? Betting types - the value bet Betting types - the bluff bet Forum discussion: Discuss the content of this article on the forum