Overfold

Also known as: overfolding, over-fold, folding too much

Folding more often than MDF requires, which makes the opponent's bluffs (even any-two-cards) instantly profitable.

To overfold is to fold more than MDF against a bet — i.e. to defend below the minimum that keeps a bluff honest. The instant your fold frequency exceeds alpha \(= \dfrac{b}{p+b}\), the bettor's pure bluff stops breaking even and starts printing: every extra fold above MDF is direct EV handed to the aggressor.

Overfolding is the single most common and most punishable leak in mid-stakes pools. It shows up worst:

• River, facing large bets — players overfold bluff-catchers to overbets, terrified of being shown the nuts.
• Turn barrels on scare cards — the double-barrel that completes a flush gets far too much respect.
• Out of position in 3-bet pots, where realising equity is hard and folding feels safe.

The correct response is asymmetric: when you face a bettor who under-bluffs (most of the pool), overfolding is actually correct — MDF is a defensive ceiling, not a quota, and only matters against opponents who bluff enough. But when opponents overfold to you, attack it: bluff above your bluff-to-value ratio, size up so alpha rises, and collect. Node-locking an opponent's overfold quantifies exactly how much extra bluffing is worth.