Chapter 2 - Raising, and Other Initial Pointers

The Memo…
Intelligence, for your poker game!

In this chapter I just want to discuss some of the basic principles that first came to my mind. Some of these are the more common questions you can hear from people who aren't as experienced in the game. One of the more important aspects of this game, is raising. I'm getting into it early because of it's importance, but best believe, it will be revisited.

The other two subjects here, "betting into dry pots" and "betting pocket pairs", aren't as important, but are worth mentioning. They may also be revisited from time to time. This is just a response to an initial inquiry by some others I recently have come in contact with.


Raising…
First, I can't tell you enough how important raising is in a No Limit game. It is common for the beginner to believe that the reason to raise is to get more money in the pot when you believe you have the best hand. There are many reasons why one should raise, but the afore mentioned reason is probably the least important.

Poker is a game of information, the more information you have the stronger your play increases. For instance, if you raise pre-flop, you gain information from any opponent who is willing to call your raise. Your raise narrows down the possibilities of what cards your opponents are holding. This is one reason why many pros would agree that calling big blind pre-flop serves no purpose, because you gained no information.

It's good to raise, it's a way of letting your opponent know that you have a better hand. The more you raise, the more information you get. Then you also take the lead on a hand and if you're leading the hand, it really increases your chances of winning the hand.

A good raise can also narrow down the field. When playing hold'em the most likely winning hand is one pair. Because of this you want to do everything you can to create a situation in which when you flop a pair it is good. The best way to do this is to limit the number of opponents in the pot with you. Even Aces prefer to play 2-3 handed because that greatly increases the likelihood they will hold up without improvement.

You have to make sure you raise is substantial enough so that people know that you mean business. For instance, raising the bet twice as much is similar to doubling a big blind. That's okay if that raises is a 50-60 percentage of your opponents stack, but otherwise you have to believe that your raise will be called and you accomplished nothing other than getting more money in the pot, a pot that you could still lose.


Betting into a dry pot...
When someone is all-in against more than one opponent in a tournament, there are certain rules among the players in the hand. These rules are more of an "unspoken agreement".

By betting on the flop and 4th street you can make your opponent lay down a hand that could potentially outdraw you on the river. This can be a disaster if your opponent's hand would've beaten the all in opponent and you lose in a show down to the all in opponent. Now you are down the exact same amount of chips (and one step shorter on the ladder of prize money), but are playing against more opponents than if you would've checked it down.

People who know the game tend to get upset when a bet is made, because the better is seemingly intentionally attempting to keep a player in the tournament by significantly increasing the all-in players chance of staying in the game, when the purpose is to eliminate players. After all, this is tournament play, in the end there can be only one.

There are some instances where betting into a dry pot is okay, such as after 5th street, if you know with out a doubt that you have the best hand with a high flush, trips no draw, top two pair with no draw, boat, quads, etc, but you have to have to nuts to make that bet of value.


Betting pocket pairs...
When you are dealt your pocket cards and you look to see that they are the same, it's always a good feeling. But what you should do with the cards you are dealt is dependant on what opponents have done ahead of you.

The higher tiered pocket pairs (AA, KK, QQ...), usually should be raised no matter what. Sometimes it's even good to re-raise.

Middle tiered pockets (JJ, TT, 99, 88...), are usually great to raise with, especially if you are the first to raise. If you're facing a raise, depending on your nature of play, you may want to call with those cards. Unless it's a steep raise, or a big re-raise you're facing, you should at least see the flop.

Lower tiered pockets (77, 66, and below), are conditional. Just like the middle tiered pairs, you should raise with them, usually only if no one has raised in front of you. The only way you can win with those hands is to take the lead in the hand and stay in the lead, otherwise once you lose the lead you lose control, and then you should fold.