Poker: The Check-Raise

The check-Raise, in this article we will be addressing this well-known poker strategy, the best time to employ it and the reasons that should lead you to undertake it.

Although a lot of authors, on the subject of poker, make reference to the types of situation that necessitate a check-raise, there is no real justification for using the check-raise strategy every time.

In order to successfully carry out a check-raise, you need to be out of position in relation to your opponent, additionally, that said opponent should also have placed a bet so that you can actually use the technique.

Even though this is apparently a logical fact, the problem arises that you need to be able to anticipate when your opponent will make a bet. This is never a simple feat, especially if you want to place a check-raise at the turn or the river because you will not know whether your opponent is going to bet or not. Furthermore, you need to be certain of the aptness of your check-raise in face of your opponent in this situation.

The check-raise at the flop:
If there is a situation in which the check-raise is most often used, then it would be at the flop. Here, 60% of the final board is discovered, and both players (assuming that only two players remain at the flop) want to signal that they have managed to get a winning hand at the flop, which they do by placing a bet.

Of course, you will not believe that every time your opponent places a bet he has a winning hand and you will not want to have the pot stolen from you- i.e. in the case that he is bluffing. You can avoid this type of situation either by bluffing yourself, by making a value bet, or by making a test raise.

In principle, you make a check-raise when you have a hand that is potentially very strong (colour draw, three-of-a-kind, or two over-cards with a gut-shot draw), for so long as you are not the initial raiser.

Here are a couple of examples of when you can profitably accomplish a check-raise:

4-4 on a board of Queen-10-4

K-Q on a board of Jack-8-2

King of Spades-10 of Spades on a board of Queen-8s-5s

Etc...

Bear in mind that even if you can achieve a check-raise with this type of hand you do not have to do so on every occasion. Trying to carry out a check raise without an appropriate hand is not recommended. This is why it is more productive to fold your 4-4 on a board of King-Queen-7 as you only have a few outs remaining, you are out of position and your opponent has a greater chance of having a winning hand on this type of flop.

To reiterate, you can only check-raise with hands that have a good potential of winning, whether this is to make a semi-bluff or to give added value to your hand. It is equally important (in many cases), to bet at the turn if your opponent pays the flop. To a certain extent, most people play from the point of view of "I'll pay once to see". This means that your opponent will pay you at the flop and fold on a bet at the turn if their hand is not enhanced, as long as you are not facing a ‘calling station'. In that case I would recommend that you make a check-call with your hand and make a crazy value bet if you manage to get the cards you are looking for. But against good players you should have the tendency of playing in a more aggressive fashion, since they will find it easier to fold their hand. You make a check-raise in order that your opponent does not know if you have a complete hand or a drawing hand. Finally, you may possibly be able to make your opponent fold their hand or pay your monster hand. This appears to be a win-win formula.

Of course, these situations are dependent on the style of play adopted by your opponents. As mentioned above, it is not recommended to make a check raise against a calling station. If, conversely, you are facing an opponent who has undertaken continuation bets (raise pre-flop and bets at the flop) 100% of the time, you will be more tempted to make a check-raise with 4-4 on a flop of King-Queen-7. Similarly, you can make a check-raise to add value to your top pair/top kicker, and you can make a semi-bluff if you have a good draw hand and your opponents understands the value of folding a hand.

The above examples have all assumed that you are not the initial raiser, but that you have simply paid a pre-flop raise. Making a check-raise when you are the initial raiser is largely odd and only works if you have a complete hand or a very strong draw hand against an opponent who plays too aggressively. Normally, you should simply make a continuation bet, without undertaking a check-raise. Also, make sure to keep in mind that you only make use of these techniques in moderation. If you make check-raises in a predictable manner your opponents will quickly take note of this and adjust their game accordingly.

The Check-Raise Part 1 The Check-Raise Part 2 The Check-Raise Part 3
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