Raise in poker

Raising is a common betting structure in poker. When a player raises, they are likely to have a strong hand. Let’s unpack the definition of raising and re-raises, and provide you a chart detailing hands that poker players should pay attention to.

WHAT IS RAISING AND RE-RAISING IN POKER?

Raising occurs quite frequently during a poker game, especially in limit hold’em. To bet or raise is as much an art as it is a science. Above all else, the position that say player b or player c holds with their hole cards will determine how successful they are in the first betting round when wagering on a big blind.

In contrast, re raising will occur after a bet has already been carried out on the current street.

We have used an example below to explain how a re raise happens when the action starts:

Player C makes a bet, Player D decides to raise, and then Player C will re raise.

Sometimes, re raising and raising are terms used interchangeably to describe the action on the board, and sometimes players have to sit and let things take its course.

POKER RAISE RULES

To make a bet or raise in pot limit games or no limit games, it is important to keep at the forefront of your mind the fundamental poker house rules.

• Firstly, you need to keep in mind what the minimum raise is for betting rounds, so for example, with a fixed limit betting structure, a raise or re raise will see small increments in a poker game.
• Also, with no limit re raises, they can consist of any size but they will generally be determined by the weight of the chip stack. A player, who therefore decides to raise, will need to ensure they have enough chips before they place their first bet for a particular betting round.
• In addition, it is worth taking note that a poker game with raises less than the minimum permitted legal raise may be made when a player goes all in for a betting round.

Following on from the previous paragraph, while this might seem self-explanatory, fixed limit games will employ a betting cap, and this measure is designed to limit the number of re raises a player can make on the streets.

WHY RAISING AND RE-RAISING IS IMPORTANT?

Growing the size of a pot in a poker game is a fundamental part of raising and re raising. Without this option, players would struggle to make a strong draw, and as such this will impact their chip stack. This, in turn, will have a detrimental effect on their overall win rate if they were to try and raise.

For most poker players, games will revolve around having the best hand and using this to their advantage, so they can extract more money from the pot.

As you see a game develop, typically you can gauge the strategy of the other players around the board. If you can set the tone, you can protect what you have, but also make a bluff to give you the upper hand.

Bluffing plays a big role in poker, but if you can remain in control of your emotions when faced against your opponents, then you will perform well in specific situations and your winning rate will improve drastically.

In the next section, we are going to examine how to raise and re raise during betting rounds, and counter opponent bets with your actions with an example or two.

HOW TO RAISE AND RE-RAISE IN POKER

A key poker strategy or tactical point in poker is the nature of the raise and re-raise when you wager. When the action falls on the player, they can decide whether to raise, and if so, they must clearly signal “raise” to the dealer before the hole card is placed.

Ultimately, you shouldn’t spend too much time fiddling around with your chip stack. If you want to gain more chips, the best way to make raises or re raises is to be confident with their calls at the table.

If you are too hesitant with your chip stack, then you may have to accept being clocked for being too slow or you could end up inadvertently making a string bet. With a string bet, you could move more chips in a manner that could be misconstrued as you raise. This could see you making the wrong sized bet and lose money.

The way in which players will raise will be influenced by the betting structure, which as discussed previously, could entail a pot limit, limit hold’em games, and action only.

With raises in action only, the rule is that players must make raises in small amounts following on from the previous bet. So, for example, if Player B made an initial bet of $20 and you want to raise more chips, then they can’t go all in until the next draw. You should therefore be aware of all the rules before making a big bet at the table.

WHEN TO RAISE IN POKER

While it’s not always legal to raise or make re raises in poker, especially if the pot limit has been reached, there are times when raised betting should be used. We have highlighted this with an example or two of when the correct time to proceed with a raise is.

FORCING YOUR OPPONENT TO FOLD

If you are worried about being outdone by a strong draw, you can set the tone and be more aggressive when using your chips to win more money rather than wait for things to happen. The more you put other players on the back foot and get them to fold, then the more successful you could be by the time you reach the showdown where the stakes will be much higher. The bluff, as we mentioned, previously is all part and parcel of getting an opponent to fold in a game.

GETTING OTHER PLAYERS TO RAISE THE POT

Although some games will come with a pot limit or have a fixed limit, the aim of raising the prize pool for live cash games will make things more profitable. If a player wishes to raise the pot limit, this shouldn’t be frowned upon. The more an opponent puts in or raises in the game, then the more you can win later.

Sometimes, you can’t always count on other players to abide by your tactics, but if you can get the majority on board, then you will be able to protect yourself down the line when you make raises or lay more chips on the table.

IF CALLING WOULD AFFECT YOUR STACK

Sometimes, you may decide that if you call too early, you could affect your stack. A re raise therefore can improve your position on the board, and also increase your chances of winning.

POKER HAND RAISE CHART

Raising in poker will be dictated by certain elements, such as the big blind. To illustrate things, we have used a table to show the type of hands you will find from preflop to showdown, and have referred to examples of when they are played.

HOW TO CALCULATE RE-RAISING?

Typically, preflop three bets will generally fall within the 3x to 5x size of the initial bet or re-raise. With the re-raise rules, the minimum re raise size will have to be at least the same amount of the previous raise. If your opponent bets say $15 on the flop, then the minimum re-raise size must be $15 or more, which would make the total number $30.

Let’s now dive into the re raise part of betting, and show you how to calculate reraises.

RE-RAISING IN NO LIMIT AND POT LIMIT GAMES

As mentioned, the basic rule is that the raise must mirror the previous minimum re raise. You should note there can often be a misconception that some bets will have to be double the previous raise when calls are made.

In the flop, there might be a minimum re raising amount of $10 in the middle. If Player D decides to bet $10 and then Player E raises to $20, the relevant calculation would be as follows. Well, if there is a smooth call, then the maximum allowed raising amount would be $30, which would then equate to a re raise size of $40. Additional chips would have to be put in for a big blind.

CALCULATING RE RAISING IN FIXED LIMIT GAMES

You will have to accept that with fixed limit games, there is a predetermined amount that is put into the pot. The rule is you can’t exceed this whether you are playing a big blind or folding after your first bet. The following example is taken from the fourth street in a fixed limit stud – the first player, Player B bets $2, then Player C follows with a betting action of $4. Plater B decides to re raise to $6, with Plater C re raising to $8. The first player can now only call or fold as betting with a re-raise in the game is no longer legal.

SUMMARY

The notion of playing with a raise in poker provides plenty of potential, and using strong value hands when betting in the early rounds will bolster your chances of improving your win rate.

While we have seen an instance or two where re raising or going all in can sometimes backfire, the re raise is a tried and tested strategy that can help you counter your opponent bets in a game. Of course, there are other layers added when you play such as bluffing and getting your opponents to fold when it comes to putting more money into a pot in a match.

We have addressed the key components of the raise and pre raise, so that when the stakes are high, you won’t shirk away from the challenge. If you want to be more confident from the small blind, a pre raise is certainly worth exploring further. We hope you have made note of the main concepts, this has inspired you to use the raise for your bets. Moving forward, you should consider using a re-raise or calling when playing poker live or if you prefer to play poker online from the comfort of your home.