Learn Texas Holdem

In limit Hold'em, players always know what to expect from an opponent who is betting. The size of the bets is fixed so there are no surprises. In no-limit poker, an opponent can bet anything up to his entire stack, so what bets a player will face are anybody's guess. One of the scariest and often most confusing bets for new players to deal with is the minimum raise.

What is a Minimum Raise in No-Limit Texas Hold'em?

The minimum raise is simply the smallest raise you can make. You must raise at least the size of the previous bet in no-limit online Texas Holdem, so a minimum raise before the flop if there has been no previous raise is the size of the big blind.

What's the Big Deal About the Minimum Raise?

A minimum raise is not enough to get anyone out of a pot and players know this, so someone who makes a minimum raise usually has an extremely strong hand. In fact, very often the player has aces. A player holding AA may know they should raise in order to protect themselves, but may be so afraid of losing action that they only put in the minimum.

What Can a Player Do About a Minimum Raise?

Some may argue that the player should fold nearly any holding, since the min raiser is so likely to be strong. However, it may be an effective strategy to call with any two cards. This is because if you do flop a hand better than one pair, you may be able to get it all in with an advantage against the player with aces. If you don't, you can easily get away. This strategy will be most effective if there are not many players to act behind you who may put in a large raise in response to the minimum raise, one that you cannot call.

Does a Minimum Raise Always Mean Aces?

Absolutely not. Poker situations do not happen in a vacuum, and the only way to have confidence about what a play means is through repeated observation of the person who makes that play. Some players may put in a minimum raise out of habit with any two cards just to build a pot. Others may make this play as an ABC maneuver, raising small because their hand is only marginally strong. However, when you see a minimum raise, you should be alert to the possibility of a very strong hand and be prepared to respond accordingly.