Sometimes checking and calling seems like the safest bet in a hand. After all, if you merely check or call without the nuts then the stakes aren’t as high, and you can keep the pot at a smaller size.
Unfortunately, when you check or call you also lose the ability to put players on certain hands through their betting patterns. And being able to figure out a person’s betting patterns is definitely something that is best accomplished with a bet or raise.
Betting and raising gives you the ability to see exactly how a player reacts to a wager which in turns cues you into the strength of their hand. On the other hand, if you only check or call each time then you’ll have little idea as to whether a person has the nuts, is drawing, has a second rate hand, or is semi-bluffing.
What’s more is that, if you yourself are drawing, then you can often get to see a free card by raising since opponents normally only call raises then avoid betting on the next card.
If you’re unused to betting out or raising then you are going to need some practice at it. And a good way to do this is by playing in low limit cash games or tournaments with small buy-ins. When practicing, bet out and raise in every instance where you would normally check or call.
After making these wagers, make sure to study your opponents betting patterns and try to put them on a certain type of hand. Do they re-raise with strong hands and then fold every time they’re raised with nothing?
Do they simply check or call when holding anything but a premium hand? Once you get the hang of raising and betting out then you’ll be able to answer these questions accurately with ease.
