Intelligent Texas Holdem Poker Raises

Intelligent Texas Holdem poker raises are vital to the game.

Why do you raise when playing Texas Holdem poker? When you are playing limit or no-limit Texas Holdem there are going to be times when you see your opponents raise with no seemingly good reason. When you raise you want to be doing so for a specific purpose. Let’s look at the reasons you should raise when playing Texas Holdem and the proper amounts for those raises.

Let’s begin by examining what to do when you get a strong hand in Holdem. Intelligent Texas Holdem poker raises should occur before the flop with a strong hand because you really only want one caller. If you have the best two starting hands of aces or kings, you can handle a couple of callers, but you never want more than two. Why is that? It is because too many hands mean too many drawing opportunities. Your raise needs to be big enough to force most everyone out of the hand.

What is the right amount? If you are playing a tournament the amount will be about three to four times the amount of the big blind. In regular ring games the amount size can vary a bit but you always want to make your raise for the same amount. A pot size raise is always a good amount. You don’t want your opponents knowing you raise more with good cards and raise less with weak hands. So remember, your first reason to raise is to protect your big hands.

After the flop in online poker a lot of people will take a shot at stealing the pot. They will bet anywhere from half the pot size to the full pot size and try and win the pot immediately. This raise is an attempt to win the pot after the flop because the flop looks weak or because they are continuing from a flop raise. If you are going to try this strategy make sure and use the bet sizes of at least half the pot, but preferably the full pot. Many players will bet less or more than this and that is not a good idea. If they bet less then it does not drive people out, and if they bet more they could run into a big hand and lose a lot of money. Make your raises half the pot or preferably the full pot size. This raise is after the flop and an attempt to win the pot right there.

In Texas Holdem at online poker sites, the turn and river will still give you opportunities to raise. On the turn you want to make bets large enough to drive other players out. If you bet less than half the pot you are probably giving your opponent some good pot odds and he will stay in the hand. If you bet too much you run the risk of losing too much if someone has a bigger hand or if they get lucky and outdraw you.

On the river if you have the best hand you want to bet as much as you think you can get your opponent to call. If you have the worst hand you want to bet just enough to get your opponent to fold. If you are not sure then you still might want to raise but make it a safe raise. If you are totally unsure then you are probably better off checking and hoping not to get raised.

The key to successful Texas Holdem raises is to make bets that are big enough when compared with the size of the pot. Making bets that are the right size will show that you mean business. Your opponents will know that if they go up against you they will have to pay to do it. If you can raise intelligently then you will win more money and get instant respect at the poker table.

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Ace King, Gambling911.com

Originally published February 6, 2007 9:05 pm ET