What Is a Check-Raise in Poker? When to Use It

A check-raise is when you check, an opponent bets, and you then raise. It is one of the strongest moves in poker because it traps a player who bet into a bigger pot and takes back the initiative.

A check-raise example

You defend your big blind with 8♠ 7♠. The flop comes 9♠ 6♦ 2♠. You check, the preflop raiser c-bets $6 into $13, and you raise to $22. You have a pair-less hand with a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw — a perfect check-raise semi-bluff.

Why check-raise?

• For value: with sets and two pair, you build a big pot against a player who is likely to bet.
• As a semi-bluff: with strong draws, you can win the pot right away and still have outs when called.
• To protect your checks: if you never check-raise, opponents can bet every time you check.

Check-raise sizing

A typical flop check-raise is about three times the bet. On wet boards, raise a little bigger to charge draws. Against very small bets, raising to four times or more is normal.

Common mistakes

• Check-raising weak made hands that cannot stand a re-raise.
• Check-raising bluffs against players who never fold.
• Check-raising every strong hand, so a check-raise always means the nuts.

Every term in this series is listed in our poker glossary.

Related terms

• Continuation bet
• Semi-bluff
• Slow play
• Donk bet