• Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amounts
• Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amount Limits
• Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amount Calculator
• Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amount Limit

Texas Hold'em can be played in three basic variations: Limit Hold'em: In Limit Hold'em, the amount you can bet or raise is fixed, according to the posted stakes. A bet placed before the turn card (4th community card) is dealt is known as a 'small bet' and is fixed at the size of the big blind. Min-raise is double the big blind. Min re-raise would be double the amount of the raise plus the big blind amount. So if you are in a 1/2 NL game and you were to take action your minimum raise would be $4. Betting Structure for No-Limit Texas Holdem Poker Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $100 then the second player must raise a minimum of $100 (total bet of $200). Players acting after a sub-minimum blind have the right to call the blind as it is, even though it is less than the amount they would be required to bet, or they may raise the amount needed to bring the current bet up to the normal minimum, called completing the bet. For example, a limit game with a $5 minimum bet on the first round might have. Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets 100 Poker Points then the second player must raise a minimum of 100 Poker Points (total bet of 200 Poker Points).

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

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.

Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amounts

Better for Tournaments

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

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.

Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amount Limits

Texas Holdem Minimum Raise Amount Calculator

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 Amount Limit

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