The 'check raise' is one of the strongest and arguably the most effective moves in Texas Hold'em poker. Regarded by some as a dishonest move and even banned in certain card rooms, there is no doubt that the check-raise is an important weapon in any winning player's arsenal.

1. What Does Call Raise Check And Fold Mean In Poker Lingo
2. What Does Call Raise Check And Fold Mean In Poker Terms

A check-raise is made when you check when the action gets to you, with the intention of raising if your opponent bets, hence the name 'check-raise'.

This is a discussion on Raise or Fold theory within the online poker forums, in the Learning Poker section; I have met poker players who espouse the Raise of Fold Theory. They never call. The game of poker has its own slang or “poker talk.” If you are new to poker, learning the poker slang will greatly improve your knowledge of the game. From the small blind to the straight flush, here is a poker glossary of the important poker terms to know. Act: check, bet, raise, or fold. Action: whose turn it is, as in “Action is on. The Check-Raise. Let's say that a player checks and another player puts in a bet. When the betting comes around to the player who checked may either fold, call the additional but - or raise! If he raises here his move is called a 'check-raise.' This is not really a rule per se but it's still good to know what check-raising means.

As you can imagine it is an interesting move because at first you show weakness to your opponent by checking, and then coming over the top of them to show a great amount of strength. This is why it can be regarded as dishonest as it is such a deceptive play, 'trapping' your opponent's bet into the pot.

So why should you use the check raise?

The check raise is useful in both bluffing your opponents out of pots and getting more money into the pot when you have a good hand. The check-raise also brings a dynamic element to your game by making you become more unpredictable to your opponents.

It is rare to find an amateur player using this move in a poker game, so if your opponents see you using this move they can be fairly sure you know how to play good poker, and may think twice about bluffing you out of future pots. Below are the two areas that describe how the check-raise can be used for bluffing, and getting more money into the pot with a strong hand.

Check raise example.

$0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em cash game - 6 Players

SB: $100
Hero (BB): $100.00
UTG: $100
MP: $100
CO: $100
BTN: $100

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BB with 7 8
2 folds, CO raises to $4, 2 folds, Hero calls $4

Flop: ($9.50) 6 6 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $6, Hero raises $18, CO folds

Check-raising as a bluff and semi-bluff.

The check raise is arguably the strongest move in poker, and so for this reason it is exceptionally useful when trying to pull off a bluff. This move is most effective against one opponent and becomes less successful as you increase the number of opponents, which could really be said for any type of bluff. 3 criteria should be met in order to make a good check raise:

To pull off a check-raise you have to be in first position for the obvious reason that you have to be checking into your opponent to make them bet. If your opponent does indeed bet, then if you raise your opponent you are showing such a high amount of strength that your opponent will fold any marginal hands.

A check raise will only work when you are first to act, otherwise you will simply be raising (if you are last to act).

There are certain criteria you should follow in order for this to be successful.

• You should be confident that you opponent holds a marginal hand.
• You should re-raise at least twice the amount of your opponent's bet.
• The pot should be relatively small.
• It is advisable to have some sort of drawing hand or marginal hand.

Be confident that your opponent has a hand they can fold.

Firstly, if you believe that your opponent holds a monster, there is little to no chance that a check-raise will get them off the hand. If you know that your opponent regularly bets after a person checks to him with no hand or with small to middle pairs, there is a far greater chance that a check-raise in this situation will work.

Make a strong raise.

Secondly, the re-raise made by you should be at least twice your opponent's bet. For example if your opponent bets $5 into a $10 pot, you should bet $15, re-raising another $10. This is because a minimum re-raise is likely to have little effect on your opponent, because they will only have to call a small amount relative to the size of the pot in order to see the next card. However, if you are re-raising them at least twice the amount they bet, it will make them think a little bit harder about whether they want to pay as much to see the next card.

Aim to make re raises at least twice the size of your opponent's bet. You do not want to give them good odds to call by minimum raising.

Check raises tend to be more effective in small pots.

Thirdly, you are more likely to pull off a bluff when the pot is small. This will be because the amount your opponent must call to see the next card will be larger relative to the size of the pot, giving them the wrong pot odds or to call to make a second pair or to make their draw. Therefore a check-raise will be more effective on the first actual round of betting, such as on the flop in Hold'em. If there is no betting on the flop then a check-raise will still be as effective on the turn because the pot has remained the same size, because there will have been no betting since the pre-flop betting round.

Finally, you will save yourself more money in the long run if you hold a drawing hand, due to the fact that your opponent will occasionally call your re-raise. If you have no hand, you will have to check and give up your hand to any bets on future rounds, losing the full amount of money you used in the actual raise.

However, if you have a good draw when your opponent calls, you stand a chance of taking the whole pot when you make your draw. In addition to this, you are likely to get a free card after after-check raising on the flop, because your opponent will be afraid to bet into you on future rounds. Giving you extra opportunities to make your draw.

Check raising for extra money.

If you hit a monster hand in poker, your main objective is to get as much money from your opponents as possible, and this is where a check-raise comes in handy. Unlike in the situation mentioned above, you want to use the check raise a little more passively to avoid scaring your opponents out of the hand. As with using this move to bluff opponents, there is another set of criteria that will make this play successful when followed correctly.

• The check-raise for extra money is more effective against multiple opponents.
• Be sure to be in first or early position.
• Do not check-raise too much.

It is advisable to check raise for extra money when there is more than one opponent in the pot, otherwise the move will do what is mentioned in the first part of the article, showing too much strength and making your opponent fold his marginal hand.

In the majority of situations, you are better off betting straight out as opposed to going for the check raise. However, it is a handy play to have in your arsenal in the right spots.

It is better to attempt a check raise when you are in one of the earliest positions in the hand, because if you are one of the last few to act, then you cannot be sure that any of the players behind you will bet to give you the opportunity to raise.

Although you want to extract as much money form your opponents as possible, a large re-raise may scare them all out of the hand. By minimum raising you are giving you opponents a greater incentive to put more money into the pot, because it is not costing them as much to see the next card.

Be sure when you do check-raise to extract extra money from your opponents, that your hand is virtually unbeatable. You do not want to be making minimum re-raise if the board is coordinated enough that your opponents hold hands that could possibly out-draw you.

Check raise evaluation.

When used correctly, the check-raise can be used to your advantage when you do not hold a strong hand, and when you hold a very strong hand. It is well worth your time and effort learning the principles put forward in this article, as it will prove to be of a tremendous value to your poker game.

This article covers the basics that you should know to help you understand how to effectively use this move. Be careful not to over-use this move, as it will lose its credibility the more you use it against the same opponent. The check-raise also requires a certain amount of knowledge about your opponent, which cannot be thoroughly taught through articles. So get out there and practice!

Related articles.

Go back to the awesome Texas Hold'em Strategy.

Comments

These might be the 2 most important factors in poker besides understanding the standard ranking of poker hands.

And like most seemingly easy questions, the answers to these questions are more complicated than you might think. When it comes to how the order of betting works in poker, it depends on which game you’re playing. Luckily, most poker games can be sorted into 3 categories, and within each category, the order of betting is more or less the same.

When it comes to knowing when to bet, check, fold, or raise—well, there are 2 ways to answer that question. The first answer is simple enough—you know when to bet, check, fold, or raise when it’s your turn—not before, please.

The 2nd answer is more complicated, because it looks at the question from a different perspective. In that case, we’re talking about “which situations” when we use the word “when.”

I’ll address all these aspects of these 2 questions in this post.

Let’s Start with the Possible Betting Actions You Can Take

In poker, you’re always choosing just one of the following options when it’s your turn to bet:

• Checking
• Betting
• Raising
• Calling
• Folding

When no one else has bet yet, checking is an option. This means you’re not risking any money, but you want to stay in the hand. If everyone else checks, you move on to the next round of the game. Most of the time, though, someone will bet. When it comes back to your turn again, you’ll have to decide what to do then.

Betting is when you’re the first person to put money into the pot. The other players have to decide whether to call or raise your bet. They also have the option of folding.

What Does Call Raise Check And Fold Mean In Poker Lingo

Calling is when a player acts after you and puts in the same amount of money you bet. You’re both still in the hand at this point, and that money goes into the pot.

Raising is when you call your opponent’s bet but add to it. You usually need to raise the same amount as the initial bet. The original bettor has to match your raise to stay in the hand. He can also re-raise.

Folding means to drop out of the hand. You don’t have to put any money into the pot, but you also forfeit your hand and any claim to the pot.

The most basic form of poker that almost everyone learns to play as a child is 5 card draw. In 5 card draw, each player gets 5 cards, all of which are dealt face down. There are 2 rounds of betting—you get to bet on your initial hand. After that round of betting, you get to discard and replace cards in your hand. This is followed by a 2nd round of betting and possibly a showdown.

Most people only play 5 card draw in home poker games these days. You’re required to put up a forced bet (called an ante) before getting a hand. In most home poker games, the position of dealer rotates around the table after each hand.

The word “open” in this context means to place the 1st bet. Until someone places a bet, the players have the option to “check” their hand. This means they don’t risk any money, but they’re still in the hand. Once someone opens the betting, players who checked previously eventually (when it’s their turn) get to decide whether to call, fold, or raise.

When Should You Bet, Call, Fold, or Raise in 5 Card Draw Poker

In most games of poker, including 5 card draw, calling is usually a mistake. Poker rewards aggression, so most of the time, you should bet or raise. If you’re not feeling good enough about your hand to bet or raise, you should check or fold. Calling is a weak move.

In most home poker games of 5 card draw, you’ll see a lot of players limping. That’s the wrong way to play. If you bet and raise when everyone else is limping, you’ll come out ahead in a lot of home poker games.

You might also draw to a flush or to a straight, but you only do this if you’re going to be in the pot with at least 2 or 3 other players. If you don’t have enough other players in the pot with you, you won’t get paid off if you make your hand. This is the exception to the “don’t limp” strategy I mentioned earlier.

Depending on the strength and tendencies of your opponents, you might sometimes bluff if you have nothing. This means betting or raising even though your opponent might have you beat. This works best when you know your opponent is weak. It also helps to have a reputation as a tight aggressive player.

The Order of Betting in Holdem Games (Community Card Poker Games)

The most popular poker game in most home games and most casinos now is Texas holdem, but it’s only one in a broader category of games called “community card” games or “holdem games.” In common parlance, when someone mentions holdem, they’re usually referring to Texas holdem. But the proper name for Omaha is “Omaha holdem.”

Regardless of which variation you’re playing, the order of betting is more or less the same from one holdem game to another.

One of the differences between holdem games and draw poker games is the forced bet. In 5 card draw, everyone puts up an ante before getting any cards. (This is also true in most stud games.)

The dealer button and the blinds determine the betting order in holdem games. And there are 4 rounds of betting in holdem games.

The 1st round of betting comes after everyone gets their face down cards in their own hands. The 2nd round of betting comes after the flop, which is when the 1st 3 community cards are dealt. There’s another round called the turn where a 4th community card is dealt. And finally, there’s a river card—the last of the 5 community cards.

All holdem games have 5 community cards dealt in that order. The differences between holdem games have to do with how many hole cards you get and what combination of hole cards and community cards you have to use to make your final hand.

What Does Call Raise Check And Fold Mean In Poker Terms

Before the flop, the betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. (There are 2 blinds—big and little. The sizes of these blinds vary based on the limits.) This means that the player in the big blind acts last.

During all the subsequent betting rounds, the blinds are the first players to act, starting with the small blind. Betting rotates around the table in clockwise order, which means you act immediately after the player to your right has acted.

When Should You Bet, Call, Fold, or Raise in Holdem Poker

Okay, this is where things get complicated. The short, practical answer is the same:

When it’s your turn. But let’s talk a little bit about tight aggressive player.

New players probably benefit from learning a tight aggressive strategy. Loose aggressive players do well, too, especially in no limit games—but for the beginner, tight aggressive is better.

What does this mean?

A tight player only plays good hands. He folds a lot. This means you should fold unless you have a better than average hand. You should also fold if you have a marginal hand but in a lousy position. If you play a lot of hands, you’ll usually lose money. Players who participate in lots of hands are called loose players.

An aggressive player bets and raises when he’s in a hand. If you just check and call, you’re a passive player. Aggressive players make more money because they pick up a lot of dead money when they win pots uncontested. They also make more money when they have good hands because they’ve been actively increasing the sizes of the pots.

So if you’re a beginner, how do you know what to do in which situation?

Also, holdem is a game that’s determined after the flop, too. If the flop doesn’t fit your hand, don’t be afraid to fold when the flop hits. Don’t keep putting money into the pot unless you think you have a reasonable chance of winning a showdown or of running everyone else out of the pot.

The most popular variations of stud poker now played in casinos are 5 card stud and 7 card stud. These games feature face up cards and face down cards, but no one shares cards. You play the cards in your hand.

The action in a stud poker game happens in streets. The first betting round happens after the first 2 cards are dealt (in 5-card stud) or after the first 3 cards dealt (in 7-card stud). After that, there’s a round of betting after each card.

Unlike in holdem and draw poker games, who acts first can change from betting round to betting round. Like draw poker games, stud poker games usually involve a forced bet from every player called an ante.

On the other streets, the first person to act is the person with the best poker hand showing on his face up cards. The order can change on every street, or it can remain the same. It just depends on where the cards land.

When Should You Bet, Call, Fold, or Raise in Stud Poker

Just like with every form of poker, you should always wait until it’s your turn to take your betting action.

If you don’t have something after getting your first 2 or 3 cards, you should almost always fold. It’s hard to win at poker if you keep putting money in the pot when you’re not the lead horse in the race.

You make decisions based on when to bet or raise based on how likely you are to have the best hand. If you have high cards, you should play aggressively.

But if you’re playing speculative hands—flush draws or straight draws—you need to pay attention to whether your cards are live. If you’re drawing to a flush, but 3 cards or more of the suit you need are already out there, you’re drawing dead. It’ll be hard to make your hand.

One of the advantages you can gain in poker is positional. The later you act, the more information you have about the other players and their cards. If you act before it’s your turn, you give up that advantage.

It’s also considered rude.

Just wait until it’s your turn to act, dude.

Conclusion

Knowing when to act in poker is easy. You just need to know which version of poker you’re playing:

• Draw poker
• Holdem poker
• Stud poker

Betting always moves clockwise around the table. The changes that matter depend on who bets first. Once you know how that works for each variation, you’re all set.

Deciding what to do and why is the subject of every poker strategy book ever written. But in general, I suggest playing a tight aggressive game. Get good cards, bet them hard, and fold everything else.

If you’re just starting, that approach will do more to help you win money than anything else.