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The River Value bet and You

• 30.06.2025 7:30 pm
• Helen
• 0 Comments

There is a dilemma you often get faced with in an average poker session, and this is, should you go ahead to bet the river the moment you are in position for value?

The plus side singularly is obvious. The moment your opponent calls and with a hand that's worse, you have a chance to bag a bigger pot. However, by going on to bet the river, compared to checking, you simply make yourself vulnerable to what's known as a check raise.

If your rival check-raises, you will be pushed against the wall, whereas you could have dodged all this by seeing one cheap showdown. So before making a decision to bet for value the river, you have to bear in mind a couple of factors.

You can Value Bet a Variety of Hands

You have to decide whether the hand you have guarantees any river value bet.

There is a single answer- simply a sliding scale hinged on the following factors.

The number of hands you can label "Always value bet" or maybe "Always check down" is very low. Poker is never that simple.

The hand you have has to be so strong that incase you are called, it is best at showdown.

After all, that is exactly what you're doing with the value bet: try to drive your rival into calling with their worse hand.

Depending on some factors stated below, it is possible to make a decision to value bet a river, holding whatever you have, either a single-pair hand or a full house.

Punish the loose-passive players.

Punish the Loose-Passive Players

Your rival is primarily one of the most significant factors the moment you are making a decision to value bet or not. They simple make all the difference.

One rival might call sizeable river bets and with any pair: while another one might fold everything except trips or better.

You have to note the playing tendencies of your rival before you open yourself up with any value bet. The best rival to value bet happens to be that loose-passive player. They tend to play numerous hands then go too far with the hands.

These players literally make ATMs dispensing cash. Relentlessly value them.

In case you notice that a player is calling down lightly (calling with worse-than-average hands), hit those rivers and using top pair and good kicker, simply because you know the play will call.

Additionally, due to their nature of passiveness, loose passive players usually are less likely to hit you with any check-raise.

Tight-Aggressive Players should not be ignored

Your call should also target tight-aggressive players for value betting. This might sound counterintuitive, literally, how is it possible for loose passive players and tight aggressive ones to be targets for value-bets?

Is the tight-aggressive style not suitable for loose-passive players? Would that not mean the chances of TAGs making river calls using worse hands are very low?

Yes and not. To be precise, it simply depends on the expertise of the player.

Over time, TAGS have known a lot regarding pot control and discovered that any move to value bet other TAGs with a single pair is just a losing proposition. This is because TAGs usually don't pay off rivers using a one pair that's worse.

The same TAGs at present know that a given player who happens to fire three barrel (a river bet included) has a monster or maybe a stone-cold bluff.

The monsters out there are fewer than bluffs, so a good number of TAGS end up making the hero calls against that player who happens to fire three barrels.

It is upon you to discover who the players are.

Some TAGs are simply fixated on making efforts to make some hero calls. If you can point out these players, exploit them.

Your image

Your image defines how your rivals play against you.

It affects every single decision they make, so literally, it has to define each decision you make. Make use of your image to your advantage.

You can advantageously use your image.

Incase you have been very active and you have caught a given wave of cards, but you have not shown down anything, players see you as a loose-aggressive.

If your rivals think you are loose-aggressive, they will call you down on the river, and lighter.

This is exactly what you need. Any player who calls you down light is certain to pay off the value bets you have.

River= Big $$$

The river remains the most important of all streets to play.

True, you do not play so many rivers like you do regarding flops, but it is by river betting when the pot's big that you will make your cash.

Do not get into that habit of always wanting to see some cheap showdowns. Simply use all the information that you have available and then look for good spots.

Incase you feel that your rival might call and with one worse hand, stick out a bet.

Making quality river value bets has the potential of upping your game. If you are careful to see good spots, it's possible to make a killing.

If you do not, you will be leaving cash on the table.