In poker, a call is the action of matching the amount of the previous bet or raise in the current betting round. By calling, a player chooses to stay in the hand without increasing the size of the existing wager, thereby committing the minimum necessary chips to continue playing. It signifies that a player believes their hand has enough equity to proceed, or they wish to see subsequent cards, without wanting to fold or re-raise.
Example
Imagine a No-Limit Hold’em game. The blinds are $1/$2. Player A opens the action with a bet of $10. Player B, who is next to act, looks at their cards and decides they want to continue in the hand but doesn’t want to raise or fold. Player B would then say “Call” and place $10 into the pot, matching Player A’s bet. The action then moves to the next player, who would also need to call $10 to stay in, raise, or fold.
Strategy Tip
Calling is a fundamental action, but using it effectively requires nuanced understanding. As a general rule, you should consider calling when you have a hand that is strong enough to potentially win but perhaps not strong enough to warrant a raise, or when you want to control the pot size. It’s often appropriate when you are on a draw and the pot odds (the ratio of the current pot size to the cost of calling) are favorable, making it profitable to see the next card. However, be cautious of becoming a “calling station” – a player who calls too frequently with marginal hands, as this can be a significant leak in your game. Sometimes, a fold is the correct decision, and other times, a raise might be more profitable to extract value or semi-bluff.
FAQ
- Q1: What is the difference between calling and checking?
- A1: Calling occurs when there has been a bet or raise made by a previous player, and you match that amount to stay in the hand. Checking, on the other hand, is an option available only when no bet has been made in the current betting round. When you check, you pass the action to the next player without putting any chips into the pot, essentially saying you don’t wish to bet at that moment.
- Q2: When should I avoid calling?
- A2: You should generally avoid calling when your hand is too weak to realistically win, especially if you are not getting favorable pot odds to draw to a better hand. Also, if you strongly suspect your opponent has a very strong hand and you are not holding a premium hand yourself, calling can lead to larger losses. Being a “calling station” by calling too often with marginal hands is a common mistake that can be costly.
- Q3: Can I call a raise, or only an initial bet?
- A3: Yes, absolutely. When a player makes a raise, they are increasing the total amount of the current bet. To stay in the hand without re-raising yourself, you would “call” the full amount of that raised bet. For example, if someone bets $5 and another player raises it to $15 total, calling would mean putting in $15 to match the current highest bet.