An isolation raise, or iso-raise, is a raise over one or more limpers. The goal is to get heads-up, in position, against a player who has shown a weak hand and is often a weaker player overall.
An isolation raise example
At $1/$3, a player in early position limps for $3. You are on the button with K♣ J♣ and raise to $15. The blinds fold and the limper calls. You now play a heads-up pot in position with the betting lead — the ideal spot.
How big to iso-raise
A good starting size is 4 big blinds plus 1 big blind for each limper. Go bigger out of position, and bigger still in loose live games where players call too much. A small iso-raise just invites everyone in and defeats the purpose.
Which hands to isolate with
- All strong pairs and broadway hands.
- Suited aces and suited connectors, especially in position.
- A wider range against players who limp-fold often, and a tighter, value-heavy range against players who limp-call and never fold.
Why isolation raising wins
Recreational players limp far more than good players. Isolating them gives you more hands against the weakest player at the table, usually with position — one of the most reliable ways to raise your win rate in live games. Track it in the free poker tracker to see the difference in your hourly rate.
Every term in this series is listed in our poker glossary.