The Power of Overbets on the River

Gilead

Gilead

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Many players are afraid to overbet, but sometimes it’s the best move. When do you apply overbets and why?
 
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dorsk

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I’m not a fan of overbetting at any street and certainly not on the river. What do you want to accomplish? If you think you have the best hand you don’t want Villain to fold but to pay you off. And if Villain calls he most likely has the best hand. Overbetting is minus EV.
 
eetenor

eetenor

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Many players are afraid to overbet, but sometimes it’s the best move. When do you apply overbets and why?
Many players complain that their V never fold but then never over bet pots--others say they never call over bets but then do not over bet bluff- Over bets start with nut hands where a second nut hand can be present. Then it becomes dependent on the villain what range do we put them on ---will they call that range or fold it? Easy way for us to start to study this is most V call Top pair and 2 pair plus on rivers. They fold everything else so we target top pair and 2 pair plus for over bet value and we bluff when they are repping worse than that.:unsure::geek:
 
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drogus

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I’m not a fan of overbetting at any street and certainly not on the river. What do you want to accomplish? If you think you have the best hand you don’t want Villain to fold but to pay you off. And if Villain calls he most likely has the best hand. Overbetting is minus EV.
It's very much an incorrect statement. Overbets are used in polarized situations, ie. you're saying "I either have a big hand or I'm bluffing big". There are situations where someone makes a hero call with K high, but let's leave it aside and discuss a more common situation: you have the nuts, and you bet for value. You absolutely can be called by worse! Some people will call an overbet with a top pair, some will call with a set even on a paired board with possible flushes. Some will call with a straight on a board with a flush possibility. But then consider the following situation: the villain had a drawing hand. You bet 30% on the flop, they call, you bet 70% on the turn, they miss their draws and have a bottom pair, you have ace high. How many people will call an overbet with a bottom pair?
 
23maxim88

23maxim88

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I overbet when I want them to fold... or when I want them to call. Gotta keep 'em guessing! )))
 
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