Well, the title is just that - a title. However, knowing when to call a bet is something that every good Texas Holdem player must know how to do. In a previous article, we talked about the decisions a player faces when determining when and if to place a bet. Even more challenging is knowing when to call or raise a bet that has been placed in front of you. In Texas Holdem, the most favorable spot at the table is on the button. On the button means that you are acting as the dealer for the hand and you have last bet in every round after the flop. In this position, you have the advantage of seeing what all of your opponents have done before you, but you need to be able to process the information correctly. By contrast, let's say you are sitting in the small blind in a hand with 5 players. You think you have a decent hand so you lead out with a bet after the flop. By the time the bet gets to the button, your bet was raised and reraised. If the player on the button has a hand about the strength of yours, he will be able to get out of the hand without it costing him any additional money. When the bet is back to you, you know you're beaten so you fold before it costs you any more.

In the article Your Better, You Bettor, So Bet we talked about the 4 things you should be thinking when you bet:

1. I have a decent hand.



2. I know my hand is best.



3. I'm pretty certain my hand is best right now.



4. I have "El Crapo" and I'm trying to steal the pot.

Now armed with this information, you need to try and determine which of these your opponent is thinking when he places a bet in front of you. In addition, the same information must now be processed to help you decide if you want to call, raise, or fold. Let's look at the same 4 thoughts when you are on the calling end of the bet.

1. I have a decent hand. In this situation, your hand may have been good enough to lead with a bet, but not good enough that you want to risk a call. You could have second pair on the board, or top pair with a poor kicker. If you are up against a bet from a tight player, you may want to throw your cards away with a bet in front of you. If you are playing a loose player, you may be willing to stick around and see how the hand progresses.



2. I know my hand is best. In this situation, you could just call hoping your opponent bets again on the next card. Or, you could raise and hope your opponent's hand in strong enough to call the raise. Always be cautious when you slow play your hand because there are always cards that can beat you. As an example, say you are holding AQ and the flop is JK10. You have the nut straight and great odds of taking the pot. You slow play the hand and just call a bet. The next card is a K. There is now a possibility that you opponent could make a full house and beat you, but you play it slow again by only calling a bet. The river brings a 10 and the board shows JK10K10. Now you are left to sit in your chair wondering what you got yourself into. Your opponent triples his previous bet and you call only to see your opponent flip over a 109 to win the pot. With your opponent only having bottom pair on the flop, and a beatable 2-pair on the turn, raising his bet would more than likely have knocked him out of the hand. Unless all the cards are on the table and you have the nuts, your hand can always be beaten.



3. I'm pretty certain my hand is best right now. Much like the previous example, this would be a good spot for a reraise. If you feel your hand is best at this point, make a reraise so it is costly for your opponents on a draw. Winning a small pot is always better than losing a big one.



4. I have "El Crapo" and I'm trying to steal the pot. When you are first to bet, it is much easier to make an attempt to steal a pot than it is to raise on a bluff. Nothing gets your opponents thinking more than looking down the table at your additional chips. Even if he has a quality hand, he may not be willing to put more chips at risk if he thinks you have him beat. Raising with nothing can be a very difficult move that takes nerves of steel and great poker instincts. An ill-timed raise can put a big dent in the chips and leave you knowing that you should have let that one get away.