What is an Open Raise?

An open raise is the first voluntary raise made before the flop, when no other player has raised yet. It is the move that starts the action in a hand, and it is distinct from a 3-bet or a re-raise, which come after someone else has raised. The open raise is your primary weapon for entering pots aggressively, and its size and range should be tailored to your position at the table.

What an Open Raise Is and Is Not

An open raise is a raise made when the action is folded to you and you are the first to put in a raise. It can happen from any seat, but the meaning changes dramatically based on your position. From early position, an open raise signals strength because you have many players left to act behind you. From the button, it can be much wider because you have the advantage of acting last after the flop.

An open raise is not a limp. Limping is calling the big blind instead of raising, and it is generally a weaker play because it fails to take down the blinds immediately and gives opponents a cheap look at the flop. An open raise is also not a 3-bet, which is a raise over someone else's raise. The open raise is the first raise, and it sets the tone for the hand.

How to Size an Open Raise

A standard open raise size is 2.5 to 3 big blinds (bb) when you are the first to enter the pot. For example, if the blinds are 1bb and 2bb, a raise to 5bb or 6bb is typical. Some players use a smaller size, like 2bb, to encourage more calls when they have a strong hand, while others use a larger size, like 4bb, to reduce the field when they are out of position.

Your open raise size should also adjust based on the table dynamics. If there are many limpers behind you, you might raise larger to isolate. If the blinds are aggressive, you might raise smaller to reduce your risk. The key is to be consistent so that observant opponents cannot read the strength of your hand from your raise size.

How This Seat Plays the Hand

Your open raising range should be wider in late position and tighter in early position. From early position (UTG, UTG+1), you should only open with strong hands like premium pairs, strong aces, and high suited connectors, because you have many players behind you who could have a strong hand or a good position. From middle position, you can add more hands like medium pairs and suited aces. From the button or cutoff, you can open with a wide range, including suited connectors, one-gap hands, and even some offsuit broadways.

For example, from the button with a stack of 100bb, you might open-raise with a hand like 7♠6♠, because you can use your position to outplay opponents after the flop. But from UTG, the same hand is a fold, because you are out of position and likely dominated.

A common mistake is to open-raise with the same range from every seat. This makes you predictable and exploitable. Instead, adjust your range based on how many players are left to act and their tendencies.

Leaks on This Seat

• Opening too wide from early position: This puts you in tough spots out of position with marginal hands.
• Opening too small from early position: A small raise invites multiple callers, making the pot multi-way and harder to play.
• Opening too large from late position: This prices out weaker hands that you want to call, reducing your profit.
• Failing to adjust to the table: If the blinds are calling too much, you should tighten up; if they are folding too much, you can open wider.
• Limping instead of open raising: Limping is generally a leak because it does not win the blinds immediately and gives opponents a free look at the flop.

When Not to Use an Open Raise

Do not open raise when you are in the small blind and the action is folded to you. In that spot, you are out of position against the big blind, and a raise can be profitable, but you must be careful. A common strategy is to raise or fold from the small blind, but you should not raise with hands that play poorly out of position, like low offsuit connectors.

Also, do not open raise if there are several limpers ahead of you. In that case, you are no longer opening; you are raising over limpers, and you need a stronger hand or a larger size to isolate. Finally, do not open raise with a hand that is too weak to play even in position, like 7-2 offsuit, unless you are using it as a bluff in a very specific situation.

The Next Decision After an Open Raise

After you open raise, the action depends on what the players behind you do. If everyone folds, you win the blinds and antes. If someone calls, you go to the flop with that player, and you must play your hand based on the board and your opponent's tendencies. If someone raises (a 3-bet), you must decide whether to call, fold, or 4-bet. Your decision should be based on your hand strength, your opponent's range, and your position.

For example, if you open raise from the button with A♠K♠ and the big blind 3-bets, you should usually 4-bet or call, because your hand is strong. If you open raise with 7♠6♠ and get 3-bet, you should usually fold, because your hand is not strong enough to continue against a tight 3-betting range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an open raise and a 3-bet?

An open raise is the first raise before the flop, while a 3-bet is a raise over someone else's raise. For example, if the button opens to 2.5bb and the big blind raises to 9bb, that is a 3-bet.

How much should I open raise?

A standard open raise is 2.5 to 3 big blinds, but you can adjust based on your position and the table dynamics. From early position, use a larger size like 3-4bb; from late position, use a smaller size like 2-2.5bb.

Should I ever limp instead of open raising?

Limping is generally a weaker play because it does not win the blinds immediately and gives opponents a cheap look at the flop. However, in some rare situations, like when you have a strong hand and want to trap, limping can be used, but it is not recommended for most players.

What hands should I open raise with from the button?

From the button, you can open raise with a wide range, including suited connectors, one-gap hands, and even some offsuit broadways. The exact range depends on the tendencies of the players in the blinds, but you should be opening around a typical fraction of hands from the button in a typical game.