The Art of Raising

Too often in poker, players miss out on an opportunity to steal a pot because they don't throw out a bluff. At the very least, it's important for players to bluff t to mix up their style of play and avoid becoming predictable. On a more serious note, players who can win those little pots are the ones who build a strong enough stack to win tournaments.

As I mentioned in my last post, players who only play their cards usually fall woefully short in tournaments. By boldly throwing out a raise or a re-raise, a player could garner respect at the table amongst his peers. Phil Ivey, who is considered the greatest poker player of our decade, commands the respect of his opponents because of his aggressive method of playing. If a player is able to get respect from his opponents, he'll be able to push them around and intimidate them in a poker game. Ivey, for example, often times draws his opponents off of better hands because they fear his ability.



In order to deliver a proper bet, raise or re-raise, the most important component is to be confident. Believe in yourself and your ability. Whether or not your bet or raise works, it's important to know that there will always be another hand and another opportunity to win. Most players get carried away and put all their chips on a raise or a re-raise; however, try to avoid raising more than two to three times more than your opponent. Even if you have the nuts ( a poker term for the best possible hand), try drawing your opponent into the hand by betting slowly and steadily. If you have the better hand and come off as too aggressive, your opponent will likely fold. Therefore, as i also mentioned in a previous post, play to maximize your profits.

However, the biggest factor that separates amateurs from pros is the ability to fold good hands. Amateurs spend too much time contemplating decisions, giving their opponents non-verbal cues of their hand. Pros, on the other hand, raise and bet with no hesitation, yet know when they are beat. According to Camilla Goodman on pokerworks.com, "The ability to throw away a strong hand in certain situations is a sure sign of a skilled player". Goodman is basically pointing out that great players know how to fold hands.

Granted, it can be infuriating when a player hits a card on the river. However, the ability to look past this takes time to get accustomed to. In conclusion, the best way to get better at raising is through practice and experience, along with the ability to fold good hands when they aren't good enough.

Sources:
http://pokerworks.com/poker-strategy/beginner-poker-strategy/raising-in-poker.html

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