Bet Sizing Basics — why sizing matters

Bet sizing is not decoration. Your size changes:

• how often Villain folds,
• how much value you get when they call,
• how good the price is for draws,
• how the rest of the hand plays on turn and river.

A good beginner goal is simple:

Choose sizes that match your goal: value, protection, or bluff.

Small bets vs big bets (what they do)

Small bets (about 25%–33% pot)

• Risk less to win the pot.
• Work well when you have a range advantage.
• Keep weaker hands in the pot when you are value betting.
• Give draws a better price, so they are worse on very wet boards.

Big bets (about 66%–100%+ pot)

• Build big pots with strong hands.
• Deny odds to draws and put pressure on marginal hands.
• Generate more folds when bluffing.
• Create bigger mistakes for opponents who call too wide.

Three common goals and the sizing that fits

1) Value (get called by worse)

Use sizes that worse hands can actually call.

• On dry boards, value bets are often small to medium.
• On wet boards, value bets are often medium to big.

2) Protection (charge draws)

If many turn cards are bad for you, you often want to bet bigger.

• Wet board + one-pair hand = often bigger sizing.
• Dry board + strong hand = protection matters less.

3) Bluff (make them fold)

Big sizes usually create more folds, but cost more when you fail.

• Use small bluffs when you can fold out a lot of weak hands cheaply.
• Use big bluffs when you are targeting strong but foldable hands.

Beginner sizing rules (simple defaults)

If you want a clean system that works in most games, start here:

1. Dry boards: bet small more often (25%–33%).
2. Wet boards: bet bigger when you bet (50%–75%).
3. In position: you can use more small bets because you control later streets.
4. Out of position: be more careful with small bets on wet boards.
5. Big pot, big decisions: choose sizes that simplify your later streets plan.

Pot odds (what sizing offers your opponent)

Your sizing gives Villain a price. Here are quick anchors for the equity they need to call:

• 1/3 pot bet → about 20% required equity
• 1/2 pot bet → about 25% required equity
• 2/3 pot bet → about 28.6% required equity
• Pot-sized bet → about 33.3% required equity

Big bets deny odds. Small bets invite calls.

Examples

Example 1: Dry flop, small c-bet

You raised preflop and got called. Flop is A-7-2 rainbow.

Default: bet 25%–33% often. Many hands miss and fold, and your range is strong.

Example 2: Wet flop, bigger value/protection bet

Flop is J-10-9 with two suits and you have a strong one-pair hand.

Default: bet 50%–75% to charge draws and avoid giving a cheap price.

Example 3: River bluff sizing

You missed a draw and want Villain to fold a medium-strength hand.

Default: choose a size that targets that part of their range. Bigger sizes create more folds but cost more.

Common mistakes

• One size for everything. Dry and wet boards want different sizes.
• Betting small on wet boards and letting draws see cards too cheaply.
• Betting big with hands that want calls and folding out the hands you beat.
• Bluffing with sizes that make no sense (too small to fold anything, too big without a story).
• No plan for later streets. Size should set up your turn and river decisions.

Mini checklist (fast)

1. What is my goal? value, protection, or bluff?
2. How wet is the board? more draws = bigger sizes.
3. What do I want Villain to do? call or fold?
4. What hands am I targeting?
5. What is my plan for the next street?

Next step: Bet Sizing Drill

Try the Bet Sizing Drill to practice picking sizes fast across different boards and situations.

Related tools and lessons:

• Pot Odds (how sizing sets the price)
• Board Texture (dry vs wet sizing)
• C-bet (how sizing changes flop strategy)