Fold Equity
The additional value of a bet that comes from the chance your opponent will fold.
Fold equity is the value gained from the possibility that your bet or raise will make your opponent fold. Even if your hand has little chance of winning at showdown, the fold equity from a well-timed bet can make it profitable.
Fold equity is calculated by combining the probability your opponent folds with the pot size. If there's $100 in the pot and you estimate a 40% chance your opponent folds to a $50 bet, the fold equity is 0.40 × $100 = $40.
Understanding fold equity is essential for profitable bluffing. A bluff only needs to work often enough to be profitable given the pot size and your bet amount. You don't need opponents to fold every time.
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