Betting for protection
Some hands are best right now and will often not be by the river. Betting them makes the hands that can catch up pay for the chance.
When to protect
A middle pair on a board with a flush draw and overcards is the typical case. Many turn cards beat you, and the hands holding those cards will fold to a bet or pay the wrong price to continue.
The value comes from fold equity: winning the pot now instead of giving two free cards.
When not to
If only better hands call and nothing worse folds that could have beaten you, the bet has no purpose. On a dry board a weak pair has little to protect against and is usually a check.
After you are called
A call usually means a draw or a better pair. Slow down on the next street unless you improve: the bet did its job on the hands that folded.
Work it out
Terms in this guide
Practise it
Reading is the easy part. Play the hand of the day, or deal ten hands in the trainer and see which of these decisions cost you the most.