Casino & Gambling Information brought to you by casino bonuses and top online ecasinos

Raising vs. Calling in Holdem Poker


When playing poker we are constantly required to make decisions. Every time we must make a decision, we have a chance to make a mistake. Continuing, most of the money we win at the poker table is the result of our opponent's mistakes and our ability to take advantage of them. This is why it is important to understand in which situations it is best to raise as opposed to calling.

First, let's take a look at the positive things a raise can accomplish. Your opponents may fold, awarding you the pot immediately. If you have the best hand, any opponent who calls is making you profit. If you have an average hand and are re-raised, this is an indication that your hand might not be the best hand. This, of course, just gives you information, but poker is a game of information. Now let's look at each of these as opposed to calling. When you call, you have no chance of winning the pot uncontested, if you have the best hand you are not maximizing your profit, and if your hand is dominated by someone else you have no way of knowing. When you call and the pot is raised behind you, is this an indication of a dominant hand, a good hand or a bluff? If you raise and are re-raised, this is an obvious show of strength.

Here is an example of a situation where it is correct to raise. You are in middle position with Ac 6c and two other players, the big blind and the button, see a flop of Ah 8c 4c. The big blind bets into you. This is clearly a raise situation as you may have the best hand and have a good redraw to the best hand if you are behind. Many players will bet into the field from the blinds if they hit any part of the flop. In addition, your raise may make the pot odds incorrect for the button to remain in the hand if he/she has a draw, and if they fold you have position on the remaining player. If you are re-raised, you will be getting the correct pot odds to draw to your Ace high flush or two pair.

Of course there are also situations when the correct play is to call. For example, you are on the button with Jh Th and see a flop of Ah 9c 8d with four other players. The first person to act bets and two players call. In this situation, a raise will probably not knock anyone out of the pot unless the first player to act re-raises behind you. In addition, you are on a draw to a straight with a backdoor flush possible, which means that you do not have the best hand yet. Remember the three things that are positive that can happen with a raise? If no one is going to fold to your raise, and you don't have the best hand, you have eliminated two of the three positives. In this situation, there are no other players to act behind you so by just calling you are not only receiving the correct pot odds, you are putting the least amount of money in the pot while maintaining your chance to win.

Once you start to realize when it is advantageous to raise, and combine this aggressive play with tight, quality starting hand requirements, you are well on your way to becoming a consistent winning player.

Wesley R. Young publishes a weekly syndicated poker column with information available at http://www.thepokercolumn.com. He also offers additional poker strategy and reviews at http://www.pokermonger.com


MORE RESOURCES:

A full house: Galveston businesses press for casino gambling
CultureMap
Casino gambling is illegal in Texas, so the state legislature would have to decide to allow it before the Chamber of Commerce would have any local control. ...
City needs to place its chips in casino debateDaily News - Galveston County
Survey: Most Galveston Businesses Want Casinos39online.com

all 9 news articles »


Casino-gambling site criticizes Deal's change of heart
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
Deal, who originally voiced his willingness to consider casino gambling expansion in the state, has now backpedalled from that position. ...

and more »


Deal makes controversial statements about casino gambling
PolitiFact
During a forum on tourism in Savannah, Deal said the state should keep an "open mind" about casino gambling and other types of gaming. ...



Hurricane Earl Path May Disrupt Atlantic City Casino Gambling
Casino Gambling Web
The Hurricane Earl path has been laid out by meteorologists and the news is not good for New Jersey and the Atlantic City casino gambling industry. ...

and more »


A Plan to Bring Casino Gambling to the City
New York Times (blog)
David A. Paterson and legislative leaders have finally agreed on a plan to bring casino gambling to New York City. The agreement gives Genting New York the ...
Casino gambling heading to Big AppleUPI.com
New Casino Agreement for New YorkCrunchCasino.com

all 13 news articles »


iFreshNews (blog)

August Gambling Revenue In Macau Jumps Forty Percent
Casino Gambling Web
Macau has quickly become the largest casino gambling destination in the world, taking just a couple of years to overtake Las Vegas, Nevada. ...
Macau's gambling revenue soars 40% in AugChina Knowledge Online
Macau Casino Gambling Revenue Rises 40% on VIP TablesSan Francisco Chronicle

all 39 news articles »


Gomes Looks To Revive AC Casino Gambling With Resorts Purchase
Casino Gambling Web
Atlantic City, New Jersey is in desperate need of a jolt to help revive the struggling casino gambling industry. That jolt may have come on Monday when it ...

and more »


Providence Business News

RI lawmakers won't return on casino gambling issue
BusinessWeek
Rhode Island lawmakers won't return to override the governor's veto of a proposed ballot question authorizing full-scale casino gambling. ...
Deadline passes to put casino issue on ballotProvidence Journal

all 45 news articles »


Jobs, pay cut at Suffolk Downs track
Boston Globe
... as the track continues to struggle with low public interest in horse racing and the failure of the state Legislature to pass a casino gambling bill. ...



Beau Rivage Resort And Casino Gambling Up With Jay Leno In Town
Casino Gambling Web
Celebrities can often be counted on to help different areas of the US after catastrophes. Jay Leno came to the aid of many in the Gulf Coast region on ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006