When to check raise

The check raise in Texas Holdem is a play some players include in their poker arsenal as a way to be more aggressive and to add an element of deception. Like everything in poker, you want to mix it up.

The check raise in poker is used for a number of different reasons and it’s a play which you definitely want to integrate into your game, because it gives you the ability to take down pots uncontested when you don’t have a hand. It signifies such a strong play that it can be profitable to use when bluffing.

Of course, you don’t want to just check raise as a bluff, and you don’t want to do it all the time either. Thinking players will notice your check raise frequency and will begin to play back at your check raises because they know you can’t always have a hand.

For the uninitiated, when you check raise it refers to situations when you check a hand, usually when you are in early position, someone bets, and then you put in a raise. If you are check raising for value, well then you will want to do it in situations where you can expect someone to do the betting if you check behind.

In addition to check raising for value when you think that you likely have the best hand, you can also decide to check raise when you are on some type of draw, especially if you have a strong draw. You don’t always need a strong draw to check raise with though, if you expect the board didn’t connect with your opponent’s range, then you can check raise expecting to get a fold almost always. Of course, if they call, you have outs to improve your hand, which is always the ideal situation instead of making stupid bluffs when you little equity to make the winning hand.

Keep in mind that when you do decide to check raise in poker, quite often you will only win a smaller pot because you are representing strength by check raising. You can afford to check raise with a fairly wide value range, especially when you are out of position in the hand, check raising hands such as top pair. These type of hands will win lots of smaller pots so you are happy to take down the pot with a check raise. If you feel that your opponent is on some kind of draw, well then you also want them to invest more money to chase their draw.

Here are a few examples of when you might decide to check raise.

When you have a strong draw, it can be good to check raise with, when you miss on the turn, you will often get a free card. If you think the board doesn’t hit your opponent’s range, then a check raise is in order. As was stated previously in this article, you want to balance your check raise range, so your opponents dont think you are only check raising on dry board or whatever. It can also be good to check raise when you have the best hand and your opponent will call the raise or shove.

In Texas Holdem, there are many scenarios for trying the check raise and there is not one best scenario to use it. From experience I can tell you that most players will use the check raise with a big hand especially if they play a straight forward game. On the other hand, you know that aggressive players are check raising a really wide range, so when yuo face a C/R with a made hand, definitely don’t give up straight away.

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