Should you always Raise or Fold in Poker and rarely Check?

Question

On Opening Bets, in order to Win More Pots, should you always either Raise or Fold and rarely Check?

Answer 1

It depends. In a situation described in the article "Finding Your Inner Maniac" here http://www.theultimatepokerguide.com/index.php?topic=full-tilt-poker-tips&page=4 I'd definitately agree with being more aggressive mostly raising to take advantage of the situation. But there are other ones where checking and calling may be the best play instead. John D'Agostino has a good article at the bottom of this page on short handed http://www.theultimatepokerguide.com/index.php?topic=full-tilt-poker-tips&page=8 when you should also be raising ALOT. So yeah, being aggressive really can win you more pots and be a bit asset to your game in the right situation.

Answer 2

Aggression is rewarded in poker so it is generally better to raise than to call or check. So if your hand isn't strong enough to bet or raise with you should probably fold. That being said there are times that you may want to check or call such as when you have a VERY strong hand and want to get more value out of the pot by representing weakness. So you check or call hoping that others acting after you will put more of their chips in instead of folding. This is known as slow playing and is a powerful but often overused weapon in your poker arsenal.

Answer 3

Actually if you want to take a bunch of the other players money checking can be the tool you have...

the most powerful move in poker is "the check raise"

basically this is used when you have a good hand and want to suck money out of the other players. You are abolustely right that checking shows the weakness of your hand, but since the other players know this you can fool them by checking when your hand is good and then, when they raise because they think you have bad cards, you pull "the check raise" trick and raise them.

They will end up being so confused that they will either continue to raise and end up giving you a bunch of their money, or they will fold because they are confused about what you have, though due to their earlier raise you still get a bunch of their money without even having to show your cards

So basically a checking can be a good thing if you are going to "check raise"

Answer 4

Depends on the table. I usually raise about 2/3 of the time, and just either call or check the other 1/3. Keeps people guessing.

Answer 5

You should vary your opening bets as a general rule so that no one can peg you.

That said, with a tight table you can pick up a lot of pots by betting and raising aggressively. With a looser table, you can get paid off by slow playing your monster hands.

A lot also depends on what has happened pre-flop. I suggest reading Harrington's books.

Answer 6

Depends on your style of play and your position. For example if I hold Q10 suited on the button and it is checked to me, then I would raise. If I hold it in the big or small blind and it is checked to me then I would just call or check. A check does not really give you any information on what others are holding. That is just my opinion but you also have to vary your play.

Answer 7

It's too broad a question. You need to understand the importance of starting hands. Check out the COTH Sunday School:

http://www.church-of-texas-holdem.com/texas-holdem-for-beginners.html

Answer 8

Depends on the table and your cards, there's no specific right or wrong. But I do know that you should never be a check raiser. Gets ya kicked off the tables.

Answer 9

always vary your opening bets but if you hit a great hand mostly check on the first bet to appear weak and lure people in

Answer 10

You really have to mix up your betting to confuse you opponets. Checking at certain times can be very profitable.