# Value Bet

> Source: [Value Bet in the Smarter.Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary/value-bet)

## Definition
A Value Bet Is A Bet Made Because Worse Hands Will Call It Often Enough To Show A Profit. The Test Is Simple: If The Opponent Calls, Are You Ahead Of Most Of The Hands They Call With? Value Bets Pay For Bluffs In A Balanced Strategy, And Missing Them Costs More Money Than Most Players Realize.

- **Category**: Postflop
- **Term Code**: `value-bet`
- **DefinedTermSet**: [Smarter.Poker Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary)

## Related Poker Terms

- [Thin Value Bet](https://smarter.poker/glossary/thin-value-bet) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/thin-value-bet.md)): A Thin Value Bet Is A Bet With A Hand That Is Only Slightly Ahead Of The Hands That Will Call, Such As Second Pair Against An Opponent Who Calls With Weaker Pairs. It Earns A Small Profit When Called By Worse And A Small Loss When Called By Better, So Accurate Reads Of The Calling Range Decide Whether It Is Right.
- [Polarized Range](https://smarter.poker/glossary/polarized-range) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/polarized-range.md)): A Polarized Range Is Made Of Very Strong Hands And Bluffs, With Few Medium Strength Hands In Between. Polarized Ranges Pair With Large Bets And Overbets, Because Strong Hands Want The Pot To Grow And Bluffs Need The Fold Equity. The Medium Hands That Are Left Out Are Checked, Where They Keep Their Showdown Value.
- [Overbet](https://smarter.poker/glossary/overbet) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/overbet.md)): An Overbet Is Any Bet Larger Than The Pot. It Is Strongest When The Bettor Holds A Clear Nut Advantage And A Polarized Range, Because The Opponent Then Holds Many Medium Hands That Cannot Call Comfortably. Overbets Are Most Common On Turns And Rivers, Where The Board Has Moved In The Bettor's Favor.
- [EV (Expected Value)](https://smarter.poker/glossary/expected-value) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/expected-value.md)): Expected Value, Or EV, Is The Average Result Of A Decision If It Could Be Repeated Many Times. Each Possible Outcome Is Multiplied By Its Probability And The Results Are Added Together. A Positive EV Play Earns Over Time Even When It Loses On A Given Hand, Which Is Why Good Players Judge Decisions By EV Rather Than Results.

## Related Strategy Lessons

- [How Often A Bluff Must Work](https://smarter.poker/learn/bluff-break-even-percentage) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/learn/bluff-break-even-percentage.md)): A Pure Bluff Breaks Even When It Works As Often As The Bet Divided By The Pot Plus The Bet: A Half Pot Bluff Needs 33.3% Folds And A Pot Sized Bluff Needs 50%.

## Practice On Smarter.Poker

- [GTO Training](https://smarter.poker/hub/training): Scenario Based Poker Training, Free To Play.
- [Jarvis And PokerBrain AI Coach](https://smarter.poker/features/poker-ai-coach): Street-By-Street Postflop Hand Analysis And Leak Detection.

## Compliance & Fair Play

There Is No Real-Money Gambling On Smarter.Poker: Club Chips Are Play Credits With No Cash Value, And Diamonds Are A Promotional Rewards Currency.