The overbet is where you make a much larger than pot sized bet. Normally done to extract maximum value when you have the nuts but also when you don’t want someone to call. This is the power of the overbet, is it a "don’t call my bluff but you will think you are an idiot for not calling me when its obvious to the whole table I have nothing but you don’t have the balls”, or, is it a "call and look like a total idiot when it was obvious to everyone on the table what I had"?

Isildur1 is famous for having used the overbet strategy to, for a short while, destroy the high stakes cash games. Poker is about information and playing the player. If a player does not use a certain strategy or play then he is less inclined to know what you are trying to do or represent.

Ziigmund (sponsored poker pro for PowerPoker) knows that Isildur1 uses the overbet in different circumstances, so he knows that Isildur1 will not just consider the overbet as a "I have got the absolute nuts" bet.


blinds $0.5k and $1k
Ziigmund raise pre flop to $3k and Isildur1 calls (pot size $6k)

Ks 10d Qc
Ziigmund bets $6k and Isildur1 calls (pot size $18k)

[Ks 10d Qc] 10h
Ziigmund bets $18k and Isildur1 calls (pot size $54k)

[Ks 10d Qc 10h] Qd
Ziigmund bets $100k and Isildur1 calls (pot size $254k)

Ziigmund had Kd Qh as his hole cards and made a full house
Isildur1 ??

Ziigmund has bet the pot all the way, either he has something or nothing. Isildur1 must have had something tasty. Then on the river Ziigmund (who is a very aggressive player) knows that Isildur1 (who is a very aggressive player) does not just use the overbet, he is the Lord and Master of the overbet. So on the river Ziigmund makes the overbet knowing that Isildur1 has a good hand and will find it hard to lay down.

What did Isildur1 have? We shall never know


The Handyman would be interested in any tournament and cash game tactics, hands or plays you have used or observed with the overbet.