Wed, 03/09/2011 – 01:23 – PokerPages Staff

In addition to the poker rules, the beginner poker player must become adept at putting opponents on a hand and betting to maximize profit.  Value bets are simply bets that will maximize the profit you receive from winning a pot.  Most of the money that is made by the best poker players comes by way of value betting.

The goal of the value bet is to squeeze the most from your opponents when you hold the best hand.  The skill of reading your opponent and putting them on a hand is key to the value bet.  Once you place your opponent on a hand and your hand is better, value betting will build the pot and maximize your profit.

Ideally, your opponent’s hand should be second best.  A worse holding may fold to any subsequent betting and folding by your opponent is not what you want.  In order to build the pot, you must evaluate how much your opponent is willing to pay with their second best hand and make that bet.

A value bet can fail if the bet is too high or too low.  A bet that is too high will surely inform your opponent of your strong hand.  A bet that is too low will not achieve maximum profit, the aim of the value bet.  A balance must be struck to extract the most from your opponent.

Value betting should be a skill that you have in your arsenal.  The ability to get the most from your opponent when you have the stronger holding will aid your game and turn losing to winning. 

To learn more, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related tutorials.  Then put those skills to work by playing for free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages sections Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker tips and strategies.