How to Understand Poker Bets

You will encounter many different types of bets when you play poker. It doesn’t matter if it’s Texas Holdem, Omaha Holdem, 7-card Stud or other Stud poker, any type of Draw poker or any other form of the game--all of them have certain bets that you need to understand.

Betting is one of the rare opportunities that you have in poker that you can control the majority of the time. The better you understand the different type of poker bets, the more advantage you will have when you play. Read on to learn the most common types of bets placed in poker games.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Poker game

1. "Forced" is a poker bet that is mandatory. The most common types of forced bets are: ante, bring-in and blind bets. This poker bet initiates the pot and is usually a smaller amount than the poker games lowest limit. Some of the poker games, such as Texas Holdem and Omaha Holdem, will incorporate 2 of these bets in the form of a small blind and a big blind. You will also find many Stud games that use both the ante and the bring-in bet. Another form of a forced bet is the post bet, which is a bet required by any new players once a game has begun.

2. "Call" is when a poker player matches the amount of the previous bet made.

3. "Check" is a bet of zero. Poker players, who do not wish to place a bet, but want to remain in the round, will usually check. It is common to tap on the poker table to signify a check bet. If another player makes a bet, the player who previously checked now has the opportunity to call or raise the bet.

4. "Check-raise" is a bet made to deceive other players, most of the time. This is when a player checks with the intentions of bringing more players into the hand. Then the same player will raise the bet, if any other players after him place a bet.

5. "Raise" is a bet that increases the original bet. Any poker player, who wants to continue in the round, must match the bet.

6. "Re-raise" is when a player raises the bet after an earlier poker player has already raised it.

7. "Straddle" is a bet a poker player can place before they get any cards. This type of bet is not mandatory and usually is only done in poker games that have blind bets. The amount placed must be more than the previous bet. This player will normally have the option to raise their bet, if no other players have before them.

8. "Fold" is not a bet, but takes place instead of one. When a poker player no longer wants to continue in the hand, they fold their cards. Poker players surrender their cards and it also removes them from any further involvement in the hand.

Tips & Warnings

• You can ask the poker dealer or other poker players if you have any questions about poker betting.
• Most games have a limit on how many raises can be made during each betting round.
• It is strongly advised that you do not attempt to play in any poker game, until you have complete knowledge of the bets involved.