There are many reasons to raise in Poker. Many players who are new to the game think you should only raise when dealt a strong starting hand. Raising with a strong hand is a standard procedure but what they do not know is there are alternative ways that exist in poker where raising gives you an advantage over your opponents.

We will go over 5 reasons to raise in NL Texas Holdem:

Eliminating Hands: Raising with high pocket pairs, AK, AQ, AJ is recommended if you’re looking to take down the pot without allowing your opponents to draw out on you. Standard raise pre-flop is 4X the big blind. Your goal is to knock out any players planning to play their suited connectors, or other hands such as 10 8, 7 9, Ace rag and so on.

Get Information: This strategy works pre- and posflop.You´re raising with marginal hands trying to find out what your opponent may be playing. Don´t use this strategy against ultra-tight players.

Earn a Freecard: This works especially in Limit Hold'em but also in NL. But if you're doing this move you must have position on your opponent. Let´s say you flopped a Flush draw and you need one card to complete it. Your opponents makes a bet, and now you're raising. On the turn he´ll check and you also do that. This is a strategy that may take you some time to pick up on.

Increase Pot size: When raising in poker to increase pot size you want to increase your payout by sending out strategic bets that will keep your opponent(s) interested in the hand. Let´s say you flopped a set or straight and you don’t want to raise players out of the hand by raising too much , instead send out a mini-raise 1X-2X. A raise that keeps players interested in the hand as they feel you may be on a draw or bluffing.

Bluff raise: If you think someone doesn´t have a hand he could call a raise with. I prefer using this strategy against loose players who are very aggressive postflop or against passive players who can made tough folds. BUT: - Don´t make this move too often, never use it against a calling station, and don´t make a minimum raise.