Value?

Originally Posted by pduan

So according to that wiki article, I should only raise if I can get 6 or more people to raise? otherwise call?

Not necessarily. Just to level set, the example in the article is limit, assumes made hand by next street and uses a draw as an example. It DOES illustrate why "value betting" really isn't something you do in most cases with only a drawing hand... and this is esp true in No Limit as the bet sizes aren't constrained and a lot of things can happen to blow your drawing odds to hell.

My take on "value betting" is adding money to the pot when you believe you have the strongest hand. I think pure value betting is mostly relevant on the River, as there are no more cards to come. You're looking to get paid for being the odds-on favorite to win at showdown.

It's obv much more complicated than that, because all of the other aspects of betting come into play. For example, it's why we don't slow-play AA/KK or made sets on a flush or straight-draw flop. We're betting in part for value (prolly have the best hand right now) and partly to protect our hand by denying drawing odds. If I just focus on extracting value and ignore protection, I'm f-king myself when the 3rd suited or 4th to the straight hits on the Turn. Reads are also a big part... I may fold my KK on a QJx flop against a 3-bet push from a ultra-tight/passive player. And in the example in the article (assuming NL), if I'm holding KK against that board with 5 players limping in, I'm raising the holy hell out of 'em to get them out of my hand as quickly as possible.

Don't know if this helped, but good luck!