An overbet is a bet larger than the pot. It can look strange to beginners because it risks more chips than a normal bet, but it can make sense with very strong hands or carefully chosen bluffs.
Overbets put pressure on medium-strength hands. They also make the pot odds worse for the caller.
Beginner takeaway
- Overbets usually represent a polarized range: very strong hands or bluffs.
- Do not overbet medium hands just because the pot feels exciting.
- Use pot odds to see how expensive the call becomes.