Check-raise

Checking with the intention of raising after an opponent bets. It traps players who bet whenever they are checked to, and it is the standard way to build a pot out of position with a strong hand.

Related terms

Full glossary

Check

Passing the action to the next player without betting, which is only allowed if nobody has bet yet on that rou…

Position

Where you sit relative to the dealer button, which decides when you act. Acting last ("in position") means you…

Alpha (bluff break-even)

The percentage of the time a bluff needs to work to break even: bet ÷ (bet + pot). It is the mirror image of m…

Balance

Having a mix of strong hands and bluffs in the same line so that an opponent cannot tell which one you hold an…

Bankroll management

The discipline of only playing stakes your bankroll can survive. Rules of thumb: 20–50 buy-ins for cash games,…

Blind steal

A late-position raise with a weak hand whose main purpose is to win the blinds and antes uncontested. Steals f…

Block bet

A small bet made out of position, often on the river, with a medium-strength hand to set a cheap price and dis…

Blocker

A card in your hand that reduces the number of ways an opponent can hold a specific hand. Holding the ace of s…