Types of Plays: Check-Raise Plays
One of the more common (and most effective) plays available to a poker player is the “Check-Raise Play”. In general terms, this play is used when you have a strong hand, but you also want to make sure your opponents bet (or raise their bets) – in essence; it’s a way to get more money in the pot.
Check-raising works like this: The player with the strong hand checks early in a round (refrains from putting chips or money into the pot). The bet then falls to the other players, one of whom will hopefully make a bet. If that happens, the check-raise play was a success, because now the original checking player has an opportunity to raise the bet.
The thought behind it is simple: you have a good hand, but don’t want to “scare” anyone into folding by making a big bet. So you check. Someone else bets, and then when it’s your turn to call, you instead raise. If the other players are now scared by your big raise, well, they can still fold, but because you check raised, they already have money in the pot. That’s the idea.
And if they call you, well, because you have a strong hand, that’s fine too.
Another purpose for check-raise plays are to drive out other players. By making it expensive to play, you drive out people looking to complete a straight or a flush. Remember - each folded hand increases the probability that you possess the winning hand. This can also be known as a protection play.
Lastly, check-raising will give you insight into the cards your opponent could be holding. You can make certain assumptions if they bet, raise, or fold (especially when the stakes are high). Of course, they could always be bluffing, but that’s part of the fun. There’s also the satisfaction in forcing players to pay for trying to beat your hand (how dare they!?!)
So the question arises, “Is check-raising ethical?” It is used as a form of deception with the intent of trying to trick other players into giving a bigger payout. Some feel it’s unethical, while others see it being no worse than bluffing, and even necessary to keep poker from being a pure card game without any physiological aspects. What’s trickery to some is just another part of the game to others.
So check-raising is based on tricking your opponent. Is that such a bad thing? True, you’re utilizing deception through bluffing to make your opponent think you have a better hand, but really now, is the poker table a place for 100% honesty? Truth be told, most people see check-raising as no worse than a feint in boxing, hiding in the bushes during a paintball game, or a fakeout in basketball. Poker wouldn’t be the same game without a bit of psychological war. Just remember that being deceptive in poker isn’t the same as being a cheat. You’re using the same tools that are available to other players.
And knowing how to use all the tools makes for a better player.
