Check-raise: How and When to Use It

The check-raise is one of the most basic and powerful plays you can have in your arsenal.

By check-raising your opponent's bet you can use your position against him, making him put more money into the pot when you are holding the nuts, or making him fold his best hand when you are bluffing.

This is a technique that you should use every time you play poker, but it is extremely important to understand how it works and how it should be used, so that it does not become a serious flaw in your game.

What is it

A check-raise is when you check when you are the first to act and then raise after a player has bet to your check. This type of play acts as a trap.

The why

Check-raising can be done for two reasons. You can either use it for value, to put more money into the pot when you think you have the best hand, or as a bluff, to make your opponent throw away his best hand.

When to use

The check-raise is an essential play in Texas Hold'em, and has its place in any type of game. It is just as effective in cash games as it is in tournaments and sit & go's.

Where to use

Since you need to check and then raise, this play only works when you are out of position.

Executing the play correctly

Since this article is a discussion of strategy aimed at beginners, it should be said that check-raising should be used with great caution.

Even though it's an essential play that deserves a place in any player's arsenal, if you start check-raising with any hand, in any situation and against any player, you'll be in trouble and end up losing money.

The first thing you need to know when using this play is why you are doing it. Poker is a game of planning, and the check-raise is the best example of this. You need to have in mind what you want to achieve by using the check-raise in a given situation, otherwise you will end up losing money.

We can check-raise in two ways.

In the first situation, you might be holding what you think is the best hand and check-raise for value to get more money into the pot, or in the second situation, you think your opponent has the best hand and will use this play as a bluff to make him fold.

Check-raising also serves to balance your checking range, meaning that by raising some of the times you check, your opponent won't automatically know if you have a weak hand other times you check a hand. Your range will be better masked.

Party Poker is back in Brazil! Learn about the bonus and benefits when creating your Poker Dicas affiliate account.

Check-raise for value

As a beginner, most of the time you check-raise should be for value.

When you think you have the best hand, you need your opponent to put as many chips into the pot as possible. The better your hand is, the more comfortable you will be in putting all your chips at risk.

Check-raising for value gives you another way to entice your opponent to put more money into the pot.

By checking and showing weakness, your opponent will bet with a wider range of hands, trying to use position against you and take the pot even if he holds bad hands.

So by check-raising, you can force your opponent to make the mistake of calling with the worst hand, or trick him into going all-in with drawing hands or hands that are only second-best.

Some key points to keep in mind are:

• You must be the first to act.
• Your opponent should be aggressive enough that he bets with a wide range of hands when you check.
• Check-raising with monster hands can be especially effective in multi-way pots.

Remember, though, that check-raising is powerful and can force your opponent to fold even strong hands. So if you are holding the nuts, be careful not to make him fold his hand before he has put a good amount of money in the pot.

Check-raise as a bluff or semi-bluff

Since this play is so powerful, it's no surprise that it's also very effective as a bluffing tactic.

By taking advantage of some common situations in Texas Hold'em, you can use check-raising to take players out of pots without really caring about what hand you're holding.

The most common situation where this type of play is particularly useful as a bluff is in heads-up play, when you have called from out of position. Since most beginning players know that they should be continuation-betting most hands where they are the preflop aggressor, you can turn the tide in your favor with a simple but well-placed check-raise.

Take advantage of this opportunity and create your 888Poker account by clicking this link! You'll get $88 free* and you can also play in a weekly $100 freeroll every Tuesday! (*$80 to be released as a bonus).

In this situation, you can use your opponent's knowledge of c-bets to your advantage.

If your opponent decides to c-bet a :4h :5h :6s flop, you can check-raise bluff to represent a hand like pocket pair that hit trips or suited connectors that hit the flop.

Check-raising as a semi-bluff is also a great way to improve your game in situations where you are playing draw-heavy hands. The next time you flop a flush draw, check-raise instead of check-calling, and give yourself a second way to take down the pot.

Article translated and adapted from the original: 10 Essential Texas Hold'em Moves: The Chek-Raise