"Value Bet"?

[Majolner]

I have always thought of "value bet" as something you do if you are quite a bit ahead moneywise in your poker session and have a decent hand.

More than likely a hand that is second best, but could just as likely win and since your expectation for this poker session is already on the positive side..so you bet.

Very confusing concept because there are alot or reasons you bet and varying definitions of betting.

If you bet on the river with a "value bet" you are protecting your hand which is a potential winner.

If you bet into a pre-flop raiser on the flop you are betting to see where you are at...which I would also consider a value bet.