Beware the min raise!

There is one move or bet size in poker that, in certain situations, should set off alarm bells.

That move is the min raise.

In order to understand why the min raise is so important, we need to understand why it is used by experienced poker players.

The min raise absolutely unequivically says the better wants you in the pot. They are pricing you in.

If you combine a min raise with an otherwise tight aggressive player then you know you are facing a strong hand.

Pre flop

When do players min raise pre-flop?

A player who has strong holdings with no callers before them, particulary in late position, may min-raise in order to tempt the remaining players, particularly the blinds, into calling with weaker holdings.

A player min raising with lots of players already in the pot most likely has a strong drawing hand, such as K Q suited. Usually (not always) a min raise pre flop does not indicate a strong made hand, such as queens or higher. Or the player feels they have a hand that would simply dominate if it hit on the flop, such as a set. A min raise pre-flop is simply a pot builder, the player making it likes the potential of their hand.

Post flop

Post flop, a min raise, especially from tight aggressive players, should set off alarm bells.

Why would someone min raise post flop?

Again, they are trying to keep their opponent(s) in the pot.

And, any time a players normal behavior changes, such as a normally aggressive player suddenly only min-raising, should also set off alarm bells.

So, if you raise pre-flop with A K. Only one caller from a tight aggressive player. Your K hits on the flop, the other cards seem to be insignificant non face cards. You decide to play aggressively, and, after the other player checks to you, you make a solid almost pot sized bet.

After waiting for a few moments the other player min-raises you. Top Pair Top Kicker is such a strong hand. What is going on here?

What could they have They called your decent raise pre-flop. Then, post flop they...

And here is another clue. Post flop they did not check right away, a few seconds passed before the check.

You assess their play prior to this hand. You cannot see a single situation where they went to showdown with anything weak, you cannot find a single example of them calling big raises post flop with weak holdings.

This is starting to look more and more like you have run into a set.

Generally, min raises on any street from an experienced player means the other player feels very strongly that their hand is the best hand, and are deliberatly pricing you in.

Slow down, think, and perform some serious assessment before making that easy call...