Question about check-raising

[Bo G]

Can someone explain situation when to use this strategy?

Thanks in advance.

[dalecooper]

- When you are playing an aggressive opponent who bluffs at a lot of pots when you check. Against this type of player you can check-raise almost any good hand, starting with top pair/good kicker.

- When you have a very strong hand you would like to make money from, and you feel leading out with a big bet might get everyone to fold; but if you check, someone will bet some amount, which you can then raise.

- As a bluff to represent hand strength that you don't have. (Most players associate the check-raise with, at minimum, two pair, and more likely a set or straight.)

[Bo G]

Thanks for the info.
Here is my follow up question.

I check-raise and he calls.
On turn what do you do? Go aggressive or go for another check-raise?

[dalecooper]

Thanks for the info.
Here is my follow up question.

I check-raise and he calls.
On turn what do you do? Go aggressive or go for another check-raise?

I'm going to assume you check-raised as a gesture of real strength, and not as a bluff. In which case, you go aggressive. I don't like the move where you check again and try to feign weakness, only to once again spring the same trap. It's not going to work a lot of times - a lot of players will check behind because they don't want to give you a shot at raising again. In my book there are two basic approaches you want to take against an aggressive opponent when you believe your hand is better, and theirs is unlikely to catch up:

1. FLOP check/raise TURN bet RIVER bet
2. FLOP check/call TURN check/call RIVER bet

Sequence 1 is a bear trap. If they call the check-raise on the flop, you bet hard the rest of the way. You're letting them know that you have a real hand, and if they insist on twisting around in the trap, your metal teeth are going to tear their legs up. (Again, assuming you do have a real hand.)

Sequence 2 is a different kind of trap for a particularly aggressive opponent. It's more like one of those chinese finger-trap things. "Put your fingers in here, then see if you can get 'em out." The harder they pull (trying to force you out) the more you passively call them down (keeping them ensnared). Then on the river feel free to bet. They may finally figure their way out and fold, or they may stupidly call or even raise here. And then you happily take all their money.

[Bo G]

Thanks a lot dalecooper.
This site has helped me improve my game light years since I started playing. Far from a shark but I don't consider myself a fish any more.

[wwonka]

sometime You can buy a free card if you check/Raise.
you check raise the flop and You are on a draw So when the turn comes It will get checked around to you again and you have your choice But if you are drawing You want the free card.

Peace
Wwonka

[Demiparadigm]

to check raise:
1you must think you have the best hand
2you have to be sure that someone behind you will bet when you check
you don't want to give a free card to someone with a worse hand, and you don't want to miss a bet from someone who would have called.

3 Position: If the player you expect to bet is to your right your raise will force everyone to your left to call a double bet, and probably force them out. If the player is to your left his bet will cause other players to call 1 bet, then your bet will make them call another. This is a good play if you have for example, top set, but with a hand like 2 pair it is in your interest to bet and hope the player to your right raises, knocking players out instead of drawing them in.

4 second best hand- it is sometimes correct to check raise to knock people out even if you think you have the second best hand, as it increases your chances of winning the pot.

5 on a draw- see my entry under "game theory"
also in a limit game if there are more than 4 players and you are drawing to the nut flush, you want each player to put in 2 bets, since your odds of making the flush are 2:1 and you are getting at least 3:1 from the pot.
Also, you may get a free card when you check on the turn if your opponent is afraid of another check-raise