Raise
Action Level · Beginner Aliases: raising, putting in a raise
A raise increases the current highest bet, forcing everyone behind to pay more to continue.
What is Raise
A raise takes an existing bet and increases the amount that must be matched, so players behind have to pay more to stay in. Preflop the big blind already counts as a forced bet, so the first player to increase that amount is also raising. A raise differs from a bet: a bet opens a street where nobody has wagered yet, while a raise builds on an amount already there. A legal raise has to meet the game’s minimum raise increment, and is limited by your remaining stack and by whether the game is no-limit, pot-limit or fixed-limit. Live, announce “raise to” and the total clearly, to avoid confusion between the increment and the final amount.
On the felt
Table6-max cash game
PositionBTN vs BB
FlopQ♠9♦4♣
ActionRaise to 12BB facing a 4BB bet
Example
On a flop of Q♠9♦4♣ the big blind bets 4BB and you make it 12BB total from the button. Because a bet already existed, you are raising rather than betting.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the first chips you put in are always a raise. When nobody has bet on that street, the correct term is a bet.
- Thinking you can raise by any amount you like. Outside of going all-in, a raise normally has to meet the minimum increment.
Related terms
All-in
Going all-in means putting every remaining chip you have into the pot.
Bluff
A bluff is a bet made with a weak hand, aiming to make better hands fold.
Call
Calling means matching the current bet to stay in the hand.
Check
Checking means passing the action without putting in chips when there is no bet to face.
Check-Raise
A check-raise means checking first, then raising after an opponent bets on the same street.
Continuation Bet
A continuation bet is a bet on the flop by the player who raised last before it.