In poker, the term 'protect' refers to the act of placing a bet with the intention of reducing the number of opponents who continue in the hand, thus increasing your chances of winning the pot.

What Is Protect in Poker?

In poker, 'protect' refers to the strategy of placing a bet or raise in an attempt to protect a mediocre holding. This is done to try to push out others from the pot, giving you more chance of taking it down.

The concept of 'protecting' your hand comes into play when you have a strong but vulnerable hand that could be easily beaten if other players are allowed to continue in the hand without making significant contributions to the pot. For example, if you hold a pair of sevens, it's a good enough hand to play but you'll rarely be dominating your opponents. If three players have called a preflop open, you might choose to raise the pot. This is in order to push out some of your opponents and potentially play your hand heads up - as you'll likely be a dog if you are going to the flop multi-way.

The idea of 'protecting' your hand is applicable in all forms of poker, including online poker, live poker, cash games, and tournaments. It is particularly important in No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha variants where bet sizing can greatly influence the decision-making process.

Example of "Protect"

For example, let's say you're playing a hand of Texas Hold'em and you have a pair of kings. The flop comes out and it's all low cards, giving you top pair. However, the flop also has two hearts, which means there's a potential for a flush if another heart comes out on the turn or river. To 'protect' your hand, you might decide to place a sizable bet to discourage any players who are chasing the flush from calling. This could also be considered as a value bet, given you're likely to be ahead of your opponents. But a protection bet is necessary so you don't allow your opponent/s to see a turn for free and potentially make their flush.

• "I had a strong hand but needed to protect it from potential draws, so I decided to raise."
• "Despite having a pair of aces, I failed to protect my hand and an opponent hit a straight on the river."
• "I managed to protect my hand by betting heavily, forcing my opponent to fold their flush draw."

Protect in Poker FAQs

[FAQ]
Q: What does it mean to 'protect' your hand in poker?
A: In poker, to 'protect' your hand means to place a bet or raise with the intention of discouraging opponents from continuing in the hand. This is done to improve your chances of winning the pot when you have a strong but potentially vulnerable hand.

Q: How do you 'protect' your hand in poker?
A: You 'protect' your hand in poker by placing a bet or a raise that forces your opponents to pay a significant 'price' to continue in the hand. This can discourage players with weaker hands or players who are hoping to improve their hands with future community cards.

Q: Is 'protecting' your hand important in all types of poker games?
A: Yes, the concept of 'protecting' your hand is relevant in all types of poker games, including cash games, tournaments, and all poker variants. It's particularly important in games like No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha, where the size of your bet can greatly influence the decisions of your opponents.

Q: When should you 'protect' your hand in poker?
A: You should consider 'protecting' your hand in poker when you have a strong but potentially vulnerable hand. This is often the case when there are potential draws on the board that could beat your hand if completed.

Q: Can 'protecting' your hand improve my poker strategy?
A: Yes, understanding when and how to 'protect' your hand can significantly improve your poker strategy. Is it a concept you want to integrate into your game, and in doing so you will become harder to play against.