Just Poker Talk

A check raise is when a player checks their hand and waits for an opponent to bet so they can raise them. This strategy is employed for many reasons and circumstances. Position, amount of players in the hand, opponents, and stage of the hand should all be taken into account when considering an opponent’s check raise or employing your own.

I plan to keep this article as basic as possible, since there are many nuances that can be better understood through experience rather than in writing.

When analyzing an opponent’s check raise or employing one of your own, you should consider the following:

1) A check raise can reveal the strength of your hand, while betting would do a better job of concealing that strength.

2) Conversely point one can be used to a players advantage in the form a bluff.

• Weaker players are more apt to call a check raise on a draw or with any pair.
• Timing is critical. Make sure the check raise makes sense. For example check raising on a board of 2-5-8-J with no flush possible is nonsensical.
• You will be playing out of position for succeeding stages of the hand if your opponent calls your raise.
• The more players in the hand, the more difficult it will be to pull of a bluff.

3) A check raise can be used to defend a marginal hand.

• On the flop and turn, a check raise can be used to defend your hand from possible flush draws and straight draws while gaining a few extra bets. The drawback is if your opponent checks after you and negates your chance to raise.
• A bet can do the same thing except it does not garner extra bets, however it is more reliable.

4) On the river, a check raise can induce an opponent with a marginal hand to steal a pot.

• A value bet on the river can do the same thing.
• Check raising on the river makes players think about stealing a pot in the future.

5) Aggressive players are good targets for a check raise when you have a strong hand.

• The decision on whether to check raise on the flop is tricky, and depends on the flop and what your opponent might be holding. Like if you are holding a set and there is a flush draw on the board, it may be a good idea to check raise. That will either result in the player folding or a chance to win a large pot.

6) Passive players are a good target for check raises when you have nothing.

• This only works better against tight players who are holding marginal hands.
• Make sure you know the player’s betting tendencies, as some passive players bet their strong hands and readily fold when they have nothing.

7) Position should be taken into consideration since the check raiser will always act before the original better.

Check raising a flopped set, flush, straight, boat, or quads is not always a good idea.

• Check raising here makes it obvious what hand you’re holding.
• Betting would conceal the hand better, especially in late position.
• Slow playing would allow players to catch up.

This is by no means a comprehensive guideline of when to use a check raise or how to read an opponent’s check raise, as the situations and circumstances are limitless and I cannot possibly cover them all. Luckily this understanding comes naturally though experience. The goal of this article is to help bring beginners closer to the point where these factors are analyzed subconsciously.

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Poker Tip#1: Starting Hands for NL Texas Hold Em

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