1. Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Rules
2. Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Rules 2020
3. Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Rules And Regulations

If action has folded around to you in a $1-$2 No-Limit Hold’em game and you want to raise with a hand like AK, you raise 3x to 4x the big blind -- or $6 to $8 in this example.

One alternative raising strategy employed my many pro players is the 'min-raise' or minimum raise. Today we will take a look at the min-raise and how to best add it to your poker game.

Min-Raise Explained

So at blinds of $2/$4, the minimum bet is $4 and the minimum raise would be $8 (or 2x the last bet or raise). The maximum amount a player can bet is determined by the amount in the pot. If there is $20 in the pot at a game of $2/$4 Limit Holdem, you can make a bet as large as $20. Check-raise is permitted in all games, except in certain forms of lowball. In no-limit and pot-limit games, unlimited raising is allowed. In limit poker, for a pot involving three or more players who are not all-in, these limits on raises apply: A game with three or more betting rounds allows a maximum of a bet and three raises.

In No Limit games there is a minimum raise size. The minimum raise size is the size of the previous raise. This doesn’t necessarily imply twice the previous bet however. For example, after a 3bb open-raise from the button in No-limit Hold’em, the minimum re-raise size is 5bb not 6bb. A: A raise must be at least equal to the largest prior full bet or raise of the current betting round. A player who raises 50% or more of the largest prior bet but less than a minimum raise must make a full minimum raise. If less than 50% it is a call unless “raise” is first declared or the player is all-in (Rule 45-B). Your minimum raise is equal to the amount of the previous bet. In this hand your minimum raise is $10 ($10 + $10 for a total bet of $20). Your maximum raise is the amount of the pot. To do this, add up the pot + the bet + your call ($15 + $10 + $10 = $35).

The min-raise is as simple as it sounds. You basically raise to two times the big blind. If you were in a $2-$4 cash game, you would raise to $8.

Basically, you're employing a Limit Poker betting strategy in NL Hold'em. However, the reasoning behind using such a tactic is sound.

1. Slow Down Other Players

For starters, it can stop other players from raising.

When a player makes a standard raise, most players are fine with getting the blinds or blinds and antes. Other players know this.

But when you min-raise, a player might mistake your raise as deception and think you might be raising with a premium hand. This forces them to slow down and thus may result in you getting to see a cheaper flop.

2. Great for Post-Flop Play

Next, a min-raise is great for those with strong post-flop play. Most players aren't going to make a ton of mistakes pre-flop but once that board starts to develop, they have a much more difficult time in making the right decisions.

Those that have a strong post-flop game will want to take your opponents to task as often as possible and a min-raise helps you accomplish this.

3. Controlling the Pot

The min-raise will also help you with pot control. Let's assume you're in a tournament with blinds of 25-50. A min-raise is 100.

If you get one caller there's just 200 in the pot and you'll have to put a lot less of your stack at risk when making a continuation bet.

Had you made a standard 4x raise the pot would be 400 on the flop and you can see how this can escalate. The min-raise helps with pot control and will allow you to play more pots past the flop when you're behind.

It also helps you get away from a hand with minimal damage when your opponent makes a hand and starts trying to pump the pot.

Better for Tournaments

Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Rules

As you've probably already guessed, min-raising tends to work better in tournament situations over cash-game situations.

Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Rules 2020

When you're in a $1-$2 cash game you'll get a lot more action on a min-raise than you will in a tournament where the blinds and antes escalate.

That's not to say that a min-raise strategy won't help you in cash games, because it may depending on your opponents.

Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Rules And Regulations

However, many pros employ this strategy more in tournament play because of the value of chips versus those in cash game action.