In this article we will take a look at overbets, a move that can force your opponent out of the pot when you are bluffing, or bring you extra value when you have the nuts.
Sometimes described as “buying the pot,” overbetting is a move you need to have in your poker arsenal, allowing you to win a larger number of pots even without having a decent hand.
What is it:
In its most basic form, an overbet refers to a bet of an abnormally large amount of chips relative to the size of the pot. Any bet larger than the size of the pot is considered an overbet.
By betting more you can put more pressure on your opponents.
Why use:
At some points your opponent would be able to call a standard sized bet, but will fold to a larger bet.
Where:
Overbets are best suited for deep-stacked games where you are able to make large bets relative to the size of the pot and still have a good amount of big blinds available.
When:
While overbets can be used on any street, the most common place to apply them is on the river.
Using Overbets Correctly
Viktor Blom is known for his overbetsDepending on the situation, an overbet can be used as a powerful tool to bluff yourself, or to generate confusing information that will make your opponent call your bet with a losing hand.
Due to the versatility of this move, it is of fundamental importance to understand why you are making this massive bet.
Overbetting as a bluff can be very appealing to beginners because you will win the pot a high percentage of the time. The problem is that when you get called, your huge bet will cost you dearly.
On the other hand, if you are trying to entice someone to call light, a big bet might just scare them into giving up the pot.
Overbet as a bluff
Using large bets to push your opponents out of the pot may seem like a show of brute force, but it should be done in a calculated manner and not by simply closing your eyes and shoving your chips into the pot.
As with all poker moves, the success rate of your overbet will largely depend on your ability to read your opponent's tendencies and the strength of your hand.
This is why you want to make an overbet as a bluff when you think your opponent has medium strength hands where there is a good possibility of folding.
If you believe your opponent has a monster, it doesn't matter how big a bet he makes: he won't fold. On the other hand, if he has a low-strength hand he will fold to a standard-sized bet.
One of the most common and effective ways to overbet as a bluff is in a tournament, where you will put your opponent in a decision for all of his chips.
Beginner's Alert: A good thing to keep in mind is that a standard sized bet will generally accomplish the same purpose as a larger bet, but will save you some money if your opponent calls.
Overbet for value
When you see overbets at lower stakes it is almost certain that they are doing so with a huge hand.
Beginners tend to bet big when they have a strong hand, making their hands predictable and easy to guess. Don't fall into this trap!
There are two main ways in which you can gain value from overbetting.
Against a weak and inexperienced player: Weak and/or inexperienced players will often fail to differentiate between a half-pot bet and a bet twice the pot. Get the most out of these opponents by betting and raising heavily when you have a very strong hand.
Overbet to show weakness: In some situations, an overbet can make you look weak, as if you are trying to buy the pot.
In the right situation your opponent may interpret this as weakness, thinking that you would bet smaller if you wanted to get paid, so you get a much higher value call.
Translated and adapted from the original. Source: Pokerlistings
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