Explain Value Bets Better For Me Please

Originally Posted by Savy

I've made too many posts to count in the past (maybe mostly on 2p2 but I think I have on here too) that the whole value bet/bluff was just a very primitive way of thinking about poker. Lots of people have argued against me about it, much better players than I ever was, but I'm right.

The reason you bet is because it's the most +EV thing to do.

Guess you're thinking about something like betting for protection? i.e. we bet ace high or flopped bottom pair because villain will fold out his 15% equity? If so, I'm with you in the right situations.

Originally Posted by Savy

Overly simplistic definitions are basically
Value - enough worse hands call to make it profitable
bluff - enough better hands fold to make it profitable

It my be simplistic, but it's the best definition.

Originally Posted by The Bean Counter

It my be simplistic, but it's the best definition.

best at what?

Certainly not at capturing the nuances and subtleties of comparing ranges and seeing that there are RARELY situations that are pure value or pure bluff. It's almost always a mixture of both, it's just a matter of how much.

There are obvious examples where you can't tell whether a bet is value or bluff. If you have an OESFD on the flop, you are over 50% card equity to complete either the straight or (not XOR) the flush. If you jam it against pocket AA, here... is that for value or as a bluff? You are currently WB, but you have equity to end ahead.


EDIT: the semi-bluff example seems pretty bad in retrospect. I'm sure someone can come up with a better example.