Call in Poker

A call in poker is one of the most common actions a player takes, whether they’re a beginner or a pro. It’s how every tournament ends, how many hands begin, and a bit of everything in between.

What Does Call Mean in Poker?

So, exactly what does call mean in poker? And is it a good idea to call, or should you be trying to raise or fold more often?

A call in poker is when your opponent has bet or raised, and you match their bet.

You’re not so worried that you’re going to fold and let them win the hand. But you also don’t want to add more chips to the pot.

You’re getting sticky, as they say in poker terms.

For example, let’s say you have pocket sevens pre-flop. The player before you puts in a big raise. You like your hand, and want to see a flop rather than fold.

But that bet was pretty big, so you don’t feel like re-raising. The middle ground is to call and match their bet.

poker chips

When to Call in Poker & When Not To

You can only call in poker when somebody else has already made a bet or a raise.

This is different to a check in poker, which means you don’t place a bet and wait for others playing after you to make their play. You can only check when a no players has raised, and you can only call after a player has raised.

This can be pre-flop or on the flop, turn or river. At all the best poker sites, the ‘Call’ button will only appear when it’s an option to you.

A call in poker can mean many things. The most basic reading of a player calling is that they’re interested in continuing the pot but don’t want to increase it too much.

But a call can also disguise a really strong hand.

Here are four times you should or shouldn’t call in poker:

Call when you have a hand which can improve

If you want to stay in the hand but don’t want to invest too many chips, a call is often the way to do it.

Let’s say you have something like A-10 of hearts with two hearts on the board and a tight opponent is betting strongly.

Even though he might have you beat at the moment, you may want to call because, if another heart comes, you have the nuts.

Don't call middle pairs in multi-way pots

Imagine you have a pretty-looking Q-K suited and have top pair on a board of Q-J-10-6-4.

The pot is already big when your opponent bets about two-thirds of the pot. And the next player calls.

In this multi-way pot, the odds of you losing increase when the second player calls, as we now know he definitely has a decent hand – and that’s before we decide if the first player has one.

A disciplined fold beats a call in these spots.

Call small pocket pairs

The most straightforward play with small pocket pairs like 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s is to just call and see a flop.

“No set, no bet” is one of those age-old poker terms>which amateur players can follow for an easy line to success.

It means that, if you have a small pocket pair and don’t hit trips on the flop, slow down or give up.

Don't call when you have high pockets and the board is wet

A wet board is one with all kinds of flush and straight draws, like 7-8-10 with two spades.

If you have a pair of pocket kings, you might feel scared and just want to call. But continually calling in these spots allows your opponents to catch up too often.

Sometimes, it’s cheaper to stick in a raise to get that information about how strong your opponent’s cards are – even if you end up losing the pot.