Over the top?

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the game, and I've been browsing a bunch of sites and reading everything I can. One phrase I've seen a lot is to go "over the top" with a bet. Can someone please explain this to me?

Thanks

Hi Jackal

It basically means you raising someone big after they've already bet. This will usually signal you've got a good hand (even if you haven't). I tend to use this tactic by doing what's called check / raise. i.e. I'll check to my oppenent and if they bet, I'll raise his bet large.

I hope this helps. Good luck at the tables.

remember though jackal - the check raise doesnt always work - get a feel for the table first and pay attention to what players always call raises etc cos if you check and then no one raises - youve just missed out on some cash

the main point of the check raise is that you might get another 3 or 4 people calling the smaller raise who would probably not have called had they known another raise was coming

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you've got to love the check raise, especially if your playing for real money and more than one person is calling your raises. i only tend to do this if i've got the nuts or very close to.

good point fonz. I've found since I came out of my mini slump a couple of weeks ago I've been using the check raise more as a bluff and managing to knock people out of the hand. Last night I was playing on a $1/2 table and started with $20. Within an hour I was up to $60 and about 80% of the pots I had won were with complete bluffs after I'd check raised. I think a lot of people believe the check raise to be a definite sign of a good hand and therefore are wary of any player doing it.

Although, like you said, I already knew that most of the players at the table were tight and capable of folding their better hands.

you have to watch not to overuse it as a raiser after you might be reluctant to raise if he knows your gonna raise again which means that hell just check - what happens then - free card for the table!

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don't get me wrong. I don't use it every hand. I tend to play 2 in every 8 hands anyway and will a lot of the time fold if I don't hit the flop and I'm not allowed to see the turn cheaply, however if I do hit something and if I think people are trying to bluff, have got a low pair or are on a draw I'll raise it nearly all the time to either try to knock them out or build the pot in case they don't make their hand. OK, sometimes you have to lay your cards down or lose on the river doing this but more often than not you win nice big juicy pots.

I guess it's all about how you play, what sort of table you're at and if you can change your style anyway. I can play very loose if needed or very tight but I'm normally always agreesive and therefore the check raise is a very useful tool.

it is a very useful tactic, the first time depending on how strong the player is you can do it to bluff but say in two or three hands if youre with the same person in a hand you can do it when youre strong and bust him

Check Raise is one of the most powerful way to get out drawers and to cement yourself in the Intimidation factor...if you win a few pots with a check raise, people are far far less likely to bet not so good hands after you just because of the fear of that check raise..its a powerful tool that when used right is a poker players paradise..remember moneymaker got Farha to fold on the straight bluff heads up because of the check raise

Cory