An overbet is a bet that exceeds the pot size (for example, a “all-in”). High-stakes players have changed poker strategy, making the overbet a prevalent tool among good players, knowing it puts opponents in difficult circumstances.
Intimidation is the key when it comes to overbets on the river. On the last street, overbets are frequently 2x pot value or greater. Some players utilize this to bluff, threatening to fold or making them reconsider their hands. The value bet, C bet, and other betting methods can be used to over bet on the river.
Over-betting effectively has two goals: getting your opponent to call or bluffing them to fold. This is because combining over bets with three-bet, value, and C bets allows you to pressure others into marrying up inferior hands.
Knowing a player’s betting tendency and how they react to significant bets can help you determine whether their river bet is genuine. Aggressive players who use c bets or three bets often raise the pot value twice on the river. When you have the nuts on the water, you may respond appropriately.
OVERBETTING IN GAME
Having learned the definition and seen an example in action, how do we execute it?
To create an overbet, we need to bet more than the pot size, but there’s more to it than that. First, we must select an overbet sizing. There are three types of overbets: 1.1/1.2x, 1.5/2x, and 3x pot+.
The higher the sizing, the narrower the range should be. This is true for all bet sizes up to the monster overbets which are likely to be nuts or a bluff.
Flop and turn sizings are typically 1.2/1.7x as ranges aren’t as extreme as on the river. On the river, we see more monster overbetting, although it is also reasonable to utilise modest overbets depending on the range.
Overbetting has two purposes: bluffing and value betting (you can read more about different bet types on our bet types page).
When value betting, use your strongest value hands. Realize that overbetting will cause our opponents to fold more often than a half pot bet, so a portion of our marginal value will never be called by worse.
When bluffing, you want your opponents to have their strongest hands. The more we can prevent our opponents from having good hands, the more they fold. As our opponents fold more often and call the top of their range, the more probable our overbet bluff will work.
OVERBET POKER
What is a poker overbet?
An overbet in poker is any bet made after the flop (on the flop, turn, or river) that exceeds the pot amount. A $30 bet into a $20 pot is an overbet.
When to overbet in Texas Holdem?
Overbet when your opponent’s range is capped, when you have relevant blockers to the strongest hands, when you have nutted hands, and when playing passive opponents.
Does it pay to overbet out of position?
Yes, it is. In some spots, the in-position player’s range is capped. By overbetting on the turn, we can believe that our opponent has fewer flushes than we have.
What are the best overbet hands?
Overbet with powerful hands or bluffs that can prevent your opponent from having strong cards. Using blockers to bluff reduces the time your opponent calls, so your bluffs work more often.
How do you handle overbets?
Yes! When your opponent overbets, you don’t have to defend as much, so fold your weaker hands. Depending on the stakes, overbets may not contain enough bluffs, therefore playing only powerful hands is reasonable.