Raise or Fold

[TimeBandit]

I am somewhat knew to poker, having played just over a year. I am finally getting over the fear of pushing and not being afraid to go out. I am not a winning player yet, I can hold my own but no big cashes.

Anyway, my question is, when I am in a hand should I always raise, if it is not raised before it gets to me or is there times when calling is OK. I have been told that if you are going to be in a hand then you raise right off the bat to see where you are in a hand. Is this the correct thing to do? (I know I ususally don't call if I am raised and don't have a pretty good hand) Thanks for your help

[karlwig]

are you talking about when you're first to act preflop or just generally?

either way, no you shouldn't always raise. but preflop you would usually raise coming first in if you're gonna play the hand anyway (since it can make you take the pot right there if the blinds fold, + if you always raise it makes you difficult to read). So raising preflop when first to act is a good thing. Some people even raise the exact same amount every time (3 or 4 BBs), so nobody can know what they're holding.

Of course, in poker there are always exceptions.

One of those exceptions, at least in my opinion, is when you're in a weak-loose game with a lot of limpers. Then you can usually just limp with any low pair/suited connector, since it's likely more players will limp giving you the pot odds you need to chase a set/flush/straigt anyway.

Hope this helped you in any way.

[DQuadfather]

Coming into a hand, I try to raise more often than not, especially if I have position. This ensures action when I have strong starting hands and, most likely, that my post-flop play will look more legit.

I don't you should be always raising, but the problem with not raising enough is, as you've identitfied, your holdings become more obvious.

[TimeBandit]

Cool thanks, I will always try to raise with good holdings and thin the field. It does seem that if you limp then it gives license for everyone to come in the pot which makes it tough to win.

I apprecitate the help. I really love to play but I don't want to be the fish at the table either.

[paulnic]

the idea with raising rather than just limping is that it gives you 2 ways to win... as well as perhaps winning a showdown you may get your opp to fold right there and then

[dwf76]

I would have to say that it also depends on what levels you play at, at lower stakes its not uncommon to raise 3/4 x BB in early position and get 3 or 4 callers, so out of position I don't mind smaller raises or limping.

[insyder19]

How come not winning player after playing for a year? Maybe very good competition.

I don't like that raise rule. It depends too much on the players on the table, if they are loose as said already I only raise with premium hands and limp with other stuff. If I know someone is pushing every time I even limp with AA and let him do the action.

To raise small on a loose table and to know they gonna call anyway and you have say low pp or so and you will be outdrawn most of the time wouldn't make sense.

[TimeBandit]

I suppose I should havbe said I don't win very much online. I play at my Elks club and win against the women all the time. I hold my own against the men but rarely win 1st. In the home games I am always in the final 5 out of about 20 and most of the time in the money. I have great patience. When I go to Vegas, about half the time I place in the smaller buy in tourneys.

I really want o do well online as I live in Colorado about 4 hours from any casino. I can't seem to win much online. A few SNG's. It seems like I maybe am not aggressive enough, thus the question about raise or fold.

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.

[PantsOnFire]

This is a wide open question. I don't play a lot of limit holdem but I'm fairly sure that when you are the first one in the pot, you should always come in for a raise.

NL is a different beast. I suggest the normal play is to raise when first into the pot. However, there are many exceptions to this.

Sometimes it depends on the table. If the table is loose passive, then people will be calling whether you raise or limp. So you might raise less here.

Sometimes you have to mix up your play. If you limp once with AA in late position, you will be able to get away with limping with speculative hands a lot more and be much harder to read. Of course, you also need to raise once and awhile with marginal hands.

The bottom line is that calling can only win a pot one way and betting/raising can win a pot two ways. Aggression rules, especially in NL.

So looking at the method of winning by two ways, they are by having the best hand or getting opponent to fold. Now if the second part has a very low probability of happening, then you should throttle back on the betting/raising because it's success rate has diminished. Now you should only be betting or raising for value and not for the opponent folding.

Sorry if that's confusing, it's hard to lay it all out in one post.