A "raise" in poker refers to increasing the current amount of the bet in a betting round. A raise is never the first aggressive action of a round i.e. someone must already have made a bet, in order for someone else to raise.

What is a Raise in Poker?

In poker, a raise is a move where a player increases the current amount of the bet in a betting round. By raising, a player requires any other player who wants to remain in the hand to at least match their raise, adding more money to the pot. Raising is one of the basic strategic tools of poker of poker.

Understanding Raises

Raising is a powerful move in poker, usually signaling strength. However, a player may raise to try to force other players to fold, to gain more information about other players' hands, or to increase the size of the pot when they have a strong hand.

Making a Raise

When making a raise in no limit games, a player must increase the bet by at least the amount of the last increase. For example, if one player makes a bet of $3 the next player cannot raise to less than $6 ($3+$3). If the second player makes it $10 — the $3 bet plus a $7 raise — the third player may now raise to a minimum of $17 ($3+$7+$7).

In fixed-limit games, raises are always equal to the limit of the current betting round.

Example of a "Raise"

You are playing no limit hold'em and two players have gone to the flop. The first player makes it $5 dollars and the second player makes it $15. The second player's action is an example of a raise. The first player has not made a raise, instead their action is referred to as a bet.

• "He decided to raise pre-flop with his pair of aces."
• "She made a raise on the river to put pressure on her opponents."
• "Despite having a weak hand, he decided to raise as a bluff."

Raise in Poker FAQs

What is a raise in poker?

A Raise in poker is a move where a player increases the current betting amount in a given round. To call the increase a raise, the bet must already be greater than zero.

How much can I raise in poker?

When making a raise, a player must at least double the amount of the previous bet or raise. The maximum amount a player can raise to depends on the specific rules of the game being played.

Why would a player choose to raise?

A player may choose to raise for several reasons. They might be trying to force other players to fold or looking to gain information about the other players' hands. They may also simply be building a pot when they think they have a strong hand.

Can I raise after I have already bet in a betting round?

Yes, but only if another player reraises you. If the other players just call and/or fold, then you may not raise again.

What happens after a player raises?

After a player raises, any other player who wants to remain in the hand must at least match the raise. This is called "calling" the raise. They may also increase the bet again, this is usually referred to as a "reraise."