when should i rase in poker game and how much?

Question

i play no limit poker every friday night and saturday night at a pool hall. at night they turn it into a poker house. $100 buy in. $1.00/$2.00 blind. later on it goes up to $2.00/$5.00 blind. my question is when should i make the raise on flops, turn and river card? how do all you pro poker player make your raise? last night i was up $600, but i lost it all back including the $200 buy in. thank you all in advance for your replies.

Answer 1

It all depends on the situation and what comes down on the board. But basically i like to raise 3-4 times the big blind when i open a pot. If i am up front then i might even make it 5 times the big blind. As far as the flop, turn, and river go it does have a lot to do with what kind of hand do you have and what hand does your opponent likely hold. If I'm on a draw i like to over bet the pot to push weak hands out and even if they call i still have outs. If i hit the flop hard then i like to value bet calling stations all the way down. Just playing in the end is the best way to learn how to play. good luck.

Answer 2

A 3x to 5x the size of the big blind is a standard raise (pre-flop).
When and how much depends on your position.
In early position (first 3 to act in a table of 8) I would raise
only with pairs of 10's or higher, or A-K suited. If I had
8's or 9's or A-K offsuit, any A-Q, A-J, A-10 I would call.
All other hand = muck. Middle position you can incude
6-7-8's, or decent suited connectors (9-10 or higher)
everything else = muck.
If you sitting in late position(1 or 2 seats from the blinds) you can always re-raise with a big pair forcing the early callers to put in another bet of fold.

I never raise from either blind (just my style). From the small blind
in an un-raised pot I'll call with any pair or suited connectors 5-6 or higher. Also, A-Q, A-J, A-10. all else = muck. In a raised pot I'll call from the small blind w/ 10's or higher or A-K. Reason:If a raise came from early position, you have to believe they have a hand. Better to lose a small blind than be committed to a pot w/ inferior cards.

I always call from the big blind (never raise), this can be a great tool to disguise a superior starting hand. I'll muck the big blind if there was a pre-flop raise and I don't have cards that I would play from the small blind, for the same reason (better to lose a little than be committed to 1 or 2 more bets).

Betting on the flop. If you flop a set - bet it, If you have top set and someone bets, raise 3x the size of their bet. If you hold top pair and no overcard comes on the flop - bet it.

If you played suited connectors and have an open ended straight draw on the flop- bet it (pot size is a good value bet) You can also call a bet with this. Same applies to a 4 to the flush draw, except when you have an Ace - in that case you raise (if someone bet before you), because you'll have the nut flush if you draw on it (35% chance after the flop)

In hold'em, position is everything.

After the turn if you had callers on the flop you need to decide if your hand is "good". If you think so, make the other players pay
(a pot size bet or 2x the pot) to see a card, because you don't want to see a river card burn you.

Always excercise caution when you're drawing to a straight or flush and the board is paired - a full house may be looming.

Please note, the above is MY way of playing, and it may not be reccomended for all players. I have played the game since the early 80's and this playing philosophy has served me well,
of course your mileage may vary.

Have fun, be respectful, and of course, shuffle up and deal !

Answer 3

If there was a "rule" for doing this, anyone could play poker successfully.

You need to learn to read your hand, your opponents hand, and how everyone is betting. Sometimes you raise before the flop, sometimes after, sometimes on the turn, and sometimes on the river. And sometimes on all of the above.

Answer 4

every situation is different. Read super system 2 by Doyle Brunson. It will give you basic concepts of hold'em poker. You can take those and mix them with your own style.
There are also smaller books that you could read in a day or two. That would help you figure out how to play. They don't go into as much detail, but they will give you a general idea. Go to amazon to find any of these books.