Online players sometimes overlook specific details. Without prior information about the game, we can readily determine certain factors, such as: calculation - The quantity of chips required for a raise equal to the pot size.
- The minimum possible raise sizing.
- Whether the opportunity to re-raise is still available.
When playing live, we can certainly pose these questions to the dealer. While some might feel uneasy about it, this could also affect the way others perceive us. Let's go over the essential guidelines for raising in poker so we can confidently identify all possible options available to us.
Having a clear understanding of the fundamental rules will enhance our ability to strategize our hands effectively and improve our comprehension of the game dynamics.
Even for those of us who play poker online The player on the button raises to 3 big blinds. The small blind folds. The big blind re-raises to 10 big blinds.
Table of Contents
- MINIMUM POSSIBLE RAISE
- CALCULATING A POT-SIZED RAISE
- WHEN RE-RAISING IS ILLEGAL
- USEFUL FORMULAS
MINIMUM POSSIBLE RAISE
Consider the following -
What’s the smallest size for a 4-bet by the player on the button?
It may surprise you that only a few players can easily respond to this inquiry. Two reasons contribute to this situation:
1. Online players often have this calculated for them automatically.
2. Players in a live setting may not consider using the minimum.
So take a moment and reflect: what is the minimum 4-bet size in this instance? sizing anyway.
The rule about minimum raises is generally quite clear, though preflop situations can sometimes be more complex. The minimum raise size is equal to the size of the last raise made. This principle is easier to understand with a postflop example. If player A bets $5, then player B's minimum raise must be an additional $5, making their total bet $10.
We can apply the same reasoning in our preflop example, but we must remember that the big blind's raise amount is not 10 big blinds. The last raise was the 3 big blinds from the button. Consequently, the big blind is increasing their bet by 7 big blinds, not 10. Therefore, the minimum 4-bet size for the button would be 17 big blinds, representing an increase of 7 big blinds. Some players might mistakenly believe the button needs to make it at least 20 big blinds, as that is double the big blind’s re-raise size, but what matters is the size of the big blind's raise, not the total amount they bet.
Following the same reasoning, we can conclude that the big blind's minimum re-raise size is 5 big blinds. Although the button's raise was to 3 big blinds, he only raised by an additional 2 big blinds over the big blind's mandatory call. As a result, the button's minimum raise to open preflop must be 2 big blinds (which is double the 1 big blind post from the big blind). Thus, opening with a total of 1.5 big blinds is not feasible; the opening amount must exceed the big blind's post by at least 1 big blind.
Many players struggle with the concept of calculating a pot-sized raise. It might seem simple to just look at the amount in the pot and raise by that figure, but it's actually a bit more complicated than that. 3bet Mastering the calculation of a pot-sized raise is particularly crucial for those playing poker games that follow a pot-limit structure, which is currently the most widespread betting format. While it's wise to ask the dealer whenever needed, being able to calculate a pot-sized raise independently makes the game much smoother.
CALCULATING A POT-SIZED RAISE
Can you answer this question?
If we want to make a pot-sized raise, what should our raise size be? poker variants with pot-limit betting structures. Pot-Limit-Omaha Take a moment to ponder this. Even though we are playing a poker game , it’s likely that a majority of players would struggle to respond accurately.
Assuming there is $18 in the pot, it is easy to think that raising an additional $18 for a total raise of $26 would be correct. This is the common answer many would give, but unfortunately, it's not right. We can verify this by examining the pot odds that are presented to our opponent with such a raise: they'd need to call $18 into a total pot of $62, which equates to pot odds of about 29%. Pot-sized raises can be identified because they offer our opponent exactly 2:1 or approximately 33% pot odds to make the call.
Flop Situation. $10 in the middle.
Villain bets $8
So what’s the key here? First, picture that we are calling the bet and calculate what the total pot size will be. If we were to call, the total pot would grow to $26. This amount will represent the raise we make.
Therefore, we are raising by $26, resulting in a total raise size of $34. Our opponent will then need to invest $26 into a total pot of $78 to call. Essentially, they would receive exactly 33% pot odds, validating that this is indeed a pot-sized raise. fundamental of poker It's important to note that re-raising isn't always an allowed move in poker, even if we have chips available. An example of this is when a short stack goes all-in with a raise that is smaller than a minimum raise .
Imagine a scenario involving three players on a flop:
Suppose you have a strong hand and decide to bet $15 on the flop. Player B also believes in their hand and decides to go all-in for $23. Typically, this raise would be disallowed since it does not meet the minimum raise requirement (which would necessitate an additional $15, totaling $30). However, since player B is going all-in , it makes the raise valid. Keep in mind that Player B cannot decide to raise to $20; they can only call, fold, or go all-in. Player C does have the opportunity to raise, with their minimum raise amount being a minimum of $15 extra chips. (Remember, this does not drop to $8 just because player B has gone all-in with less than the minimum.)
WHEN RE-RAISING IS ILLEGAL
Now, imagine that Player C chooses to call, and the action returns to us. We are satisfied with our hand and want to raise, looking to extract more chips from Player C. But can we do that? No, we cannot.
We can only consider a re-raise if we have encountered at least one full-sized raise before the action comes back to us. If Player C had made a minimum raise, we would be able to re-raise now. However, since Player C merely called, no full-sized raise has occurred, and we are left with only the options to call or fold.
Pot Size: $20
Player A (hero): $100
Player B (shorty) $23
Player C (villain) $100
Naturally, this is all automatically tallied for online players, yet beginners might find it confusing when their raise option is disabled even though they have sufficient chips. In both live games and online settings , these rulings can lead to significant misunderstandings and discussions.
It’s crucial for Player C to be aware of these rules since it could work against them if Player A attempted an illegal re-raise.
Here's a brief summary of the helpful formulas that we've discussed throughout this article:
Minimum Raise Calculation = Must equal the size of the previous raise (not necessarily the size of the last bet).
Pot Sized Raise Calculation = Assume we make the call and then observe the total pot. This is the amount of our raise. home games Is there still an opportunity to act? = Only if we have faced at least one full-sized raise since we placed our bet.
Timothy \"Ch0r0r0\" Allin is a seasoned player, mentor, and writer. Since starting in 2006, he has built his bankroll from the lowest online limits without making any deposits. After competing in some of the toughest lineups globally and achieving success, he now shares his experiences and strategies through the 888poker magazine.
USEFUL FORMULAS
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