The Basic Betting Acts in Poker
A poker player needs to understand the betting moves of the game no matter which variant they are playing. Here you will learn about poker betting moves and the times when you'll want to use them.
Betting Rounds
In community card games like Texas Holdem, there are betting rounds before and after open cards are dealt. Unlike in games like Blackjack or Video Poker, the Holdem player cannot ask for more cards, stand, and so on. They can only act through betting. Through betting you announce to the whole table what you intend to do with your hand (at least up to that point in the game).
Betting Acts
Bet - You place a wager before any other player does in the round.
Call - You agree to make the same bet as the last wager that was made in the round.
Fold - You give up your hand and no longer play (until new hands are dealt in the next game).
Raise - You increase the wager.
Check - You pass to the next player.
Betting Situations
When do I make a bet in Texas Holdem?
- When you are in the small blind. You must post one-half of the minimum wager. This is the first bet in the hand. - When you are the big blind. You must post twice as much as the small blind. This is the first full wager in the hand. - When you have a strong hand but don't want to make it obvious by raising. - When your hand isn't that strong and you want other players to fold.
When do I call a bet?
- When your hand isn't that good but you want stay and see the next card. (This is "limping into" the next round.) - When you have a monster hand and want to play it slow but pretending it isn't such a good hand. - When you are a loose and passive player who plays many hands and want to see all the community cards. - When betting is capped and someone raised to the limit, you can only call the bet, not raise it. - When you think someone is bluffing and want to "keep them honest."
When do I fold?
- When your starting cards are weak; that is, generally considered unplayable. - When you had good starting cards preflop but the flop is totally off. - At any stage in the hand when you feel you won't make your hand. - When you sense that another player may have a better hand, e.g. a three of a kind over your two pair.
When do I raise?
- When you have a monster hand. - When you are close to making a monster hand and want others to fold. - When you want to make someone pay for bluffing.
When do I check?
- When you can see the next card for free (without placing a new bet). - When you want to pass to the other players hoping someone will bet, so you can raise later. - When the last cards did not help you. - When you are in early position and want to see others act first.
As a final piece of advice, change your betting rhythm now and then. Betting acts tell your opponents what you have. So be unpredictable. This is especially important for online poker where play is so fast and getting into a habit is easy. Break any patterns and keep them guessing!
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