How much you should bet in a hand of poker usually depends on the situation. When you feel that you have the lead in the hand, but there are more cards to come, you should bet enough to deter drawing hands from sticking around. Each situation presents different pot odds, but if you think you have the lead, and there’s a possible draw on the board, you should bet around three quarters of the size of the pot. That makes it a mathematical mistake for the drawing hand to call.

If you have the nut hand after the river, a value bet is the way to go. A value bet is any amount that you think that particular opponent will call. If it’s too big you won’t get paid off, so betting a smaller amount that gets called is better than nothing at all.