Explanation of Overbet
The term “overbet” refers to any bet sizing larger than the amount currently in the pot. Many players are conditioned to always bet between 50% and 100% pot, but the best players make use of both underbets (sizings smaller than 50% of the pot) and overbets (sizings larger than 100% of the pot).
A discussion on overbetting is most relevant to poker variants played with a no-limit betting structure, since overbetting in fixed-limit and pot-limit formats of the game is not possible.
Example of Overbet used in a sentence -> There was $100 in the middle and villain made an overbet of $150.
How to Use Overbet as Part of Your Poker Strategy
Strong professionals understand when using an overbet sizing should be considered and work such bet sizings into their game on a regular basis. Here are some guidelines for scenarios where overbetting might be the best play.
- We have a very strong made hand and our opponent is a calling station.
- We have the polarized range and our opponent has a condensed range or is capped.
- Our opponent is folding at an exploitably high frequency against overbets (making it better than a regularly sized bluff).
In many spots there is a clear correlation between the strength of our hand and the ideal sizing. Strong hands usually like to bet big (and consider overbetting) while mid-strength hands are rarely candidates for large sizings. It’s common for players to struggle with the idea that basic bet-sizing principles could ever be so simple. Of course, bet-sizing when considered in depth, is easily one of the most complicated areas in poker, but basic bet-sizing principles can be understood by everyone and needn’t be overcomplicated.
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