Raise or Call, postflop

I feel one area of my game that needs major help is to call or raise. I don’t know which to pick.

Folding is easy to choose. If you are not getting pot odds to draw or if when you do hit your draw you still won’t win, then fold.

Deciding to call or raise is harder. My tendency is to call so as to not tip my hand that I can beat them. Is that sound play? Deception is an important part of winning money in a ring game so on the surface it seems sound but there may be times when I really should raise instead of call.

I’ll outline what I think are reasons to raise and then give some examples so you can correct me. For our purposes, we’ll assume the bet before me is at least half the pot so I don’t need to raise just to give bad odds to draw. Lets also assume that every hand I am talking about I have TP with various kickers.
1. Raise to isolate.
2. Raise to see where I stand.
3. Raise because I have the best hand and I am a greedy sombitch and want more money.
4. ?? something I missed?

Hand scenarios.
Hand 1:
I hold KT in LP with a T high flop. EP player bets and it folds to me with nobody behind me in the pot. I would normally call. Is there any reason to raise?
Is it different if the bettor is in MP?

Hand 2:
I hold AT in MP on a T high flop. EP player bets, I am next to act with 2 others behind me. Raise? Why? Here I might raise to drive out good hands that are not made (KQ, etc).

Hand 3:
I hold AT in MP on a T high flop. EP player bets, I am the only other one in the hand. Raise? I would likely call.

Hand 4:
I hold AK in LP on a AQx flop (PF raise was 4xbb). MP bettor raises the bet from EP. Raise or call?

Hand 5:
I hold AK in EP on a AKx flop (PF raise was 4xbb). I am next to act after EP bettor. There is one player left to act. Raise for value or call for deception?


If you can think of other scenarios that illustrate other purposes for raising v.s. calling please feel free to add them.

Hand 1: raise, because you need to see where you stand. TP, second kicker with a ten as your pair is not a good hand, and has a LOT of cards that coudl hurt it. You need to see if your opponent has QT or JT there.

Hand 2: I don't how the flop looks like as far as suits and connectors, but I'd be inclined to call here, because that would scare the people behind you, and you can see where you stand later; on a side not, you should not have AT in mid-position anyway.

Hand 3: You didn't say preflop action; if it was limped to you, then, I raise this to see if I'm up against something better; also, if you're up merely against a calling station that could be calling with any two, then I raise here for value, 'cause he's obviously not betting past this.

Hand 4: Fold; there are two players in here, one of which probably has a set, assuming that the EP bet half hte pot to begin with. If you absolutely, positively HAVE to stay in this pot, then raise to see where you're at. Calling is a horrible option here, because the turn can pretty much only bring you trouble.

Hand 5: Call, and then see if he bets at you again on the turn if he's prone to doing continuation bets (like me). Otherwise, if you think he has an ace and will help pay you off, raise, to build the pot.

First of all, top pair is a vulnerable hand. You almost always want to be raising it to protect or seek information.

Some General Reasons to raise
an initial flop bet with any hand

1. You don't know where you stand, but are leaning toward "I'm ahead here".

2. You have one pair that you believe is ahead (even if it's top), with bettors still to act behind you. Get them out. You only have one pair.

3. You're drawing, and you want to disguise your hand and attempt to buy a free river card (late position).

Some general reasons to Check (same situation)

1. Your hand sucks

2. You flopped a strong hand that is unlikely to be drawn out on, and you want your opponent to catch a second best hand.

3. You are heads up, flop top pair A or K, and want to extract minimum value on later streets from your opponent by looking weak.

To me it sounds like you're being to0 passive. Remember....

Betting = Info

aggression wins the day my friend.