A valve including: a valve housing including a first inlet/outlet and a second inlet/outlet; a valve seat having a valve seat surface that circumscribes a longitudinal axis; and a valve member that is moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve member includes a first axial end that faces the valve seat surface and a second axial end that faces away from the first axial end, wherein when the valve member is in an open position, the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet are fluidly connected, and when the valve member is in a closed position, the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet are fluidly disconnected; wherein the valve member includes: an axially extending nose that defines a portion of a flow path that extends from an opening in the first axial end towards the second axial end to allow fluid to flow within the nose, the portion of the flow path defined by the axially extending nose having a cross-sectional area that is less than an adjacent portion of the flow path, wherein the nose extends axially away from the second axial end of the valve member beyond a focal point, and wherein the focal point is defined by an intersection of imaginary projection lines that extend along flow paths formed between the valve member and the valve seat surface; whereby when a fluid within the second inlet/outlet has a pressure that is higher than a pressure of fluid within the flow path defined by the nose, and the valve member opens, a high pressure zone forms in the first inlet/outlet about the nose and the flow path receives lower pressure fluid from a low pressure zone that is axially beyond the high pressure zone and that is adjacent the opening in the nose to prevent an increase in the amount of force needed to open the valve member. a valve housing including a first inlet/outlet and a second inlet/outlet; a valve seat having a valve seat surface that circumscribes a longitudinal axis; and a valve member that is moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve member includes a first axial end that faces the valve seat surface and a second axial end that faces away from the first axial end, wherein when the valve member is in an open position, the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet are fluidly connected, and when the valve member is in a closed position, the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet are fluidly disconnected; wherein the valve member includes: an axially extending nose that defines a portion of a flow path that extends from an opening in the first axial end towards the second axial end to allow fluid to flow within the nose, the portion of the flow path defined by the axially extending nose having a cross-sectional area that is less than an adjacent portion of the flow path, wherein the nose extends axially away from the second axial end of the valve member beyond a focal point, and wherein the focal point is defined by an intersection of imaginary projection lines that extend along flow paths formed between the valve member and the valve seat surface; whereby when a fluid within the second inlet/outlet has a pressure that is higher than a pressure of fluid within the flow path defined by the nose, and the valve member opens, a high pressure zone forms in the first inlet/outlet about the nose and the flow path receives lower pressure fluid from a low pressure zone that is axially beyond the high pressure zone and that is adjacent the opening in the nose to prevent an increase in the amount of force needed to open the valve member. an axially extending nose that defines a portion of a flow path that extends from an opening in the first axial end towards the second axial end to allow fluid to flow within the nose, the portion of the flow path defined by the axially extending nose having a cross-sectional area that is less than an adjacent portion of the flow path, wherein the nose extends axially away from the second axial end of the valve member beyond a focal point, and wherein the focal point is defined by an intersection of imaginary projection lines that extend along flow paths formed between the valve member and the valve seat surface; whereby when a fluid within the second inlet/outlet has a pressure that is higher than a pressure of fluid within the flow path defined by the nose, and the valve member opens, a high pressure zone forms in the first inlet/outlet about the nose and the flow path receives lower pressure fluid from a low pressure zone that is axially beyond the high pressure zone and that is adjacent the opening in the nose to prevent an increase in the amount of force needed to open the valve member.