Quick facts by PokerStrategy
- Calling is the act of matching the current bet by putting the same amount of chips in the pot.
- Depending on the situation, calling can be preferable to folding or raising.
- Calling can be used for pot control and as a deceptive way to get more value.
- Calling too often and without purpose becomes passive and damaging.
What Is a Call in Poker?
A call in poker is the act of matching the current bet by putting the same amount of chips into the pot, allowing you to stay in the hand.
There are four betting rounds in poker. In each round, players have the option to check, bet, call, raise, or fold. If someone has already made a bet, remaining players must match that bet with at least a call to continue. The betting round continues until bets have been matched.
Calling is somewhat of a passive option compared to raising the pot, but there are many situations in poker in which you’ll want to call rather than raise or fold.
Call vs Fold and Raise
If a player has already made a bet before you on the current street, whether that’s preflop, on the flop, turn, or river, you’ll have three options available to you – calling, raising, or folding.
Let’s take a look at how those compare:
- Calling vs folding: If someone has already made a bet, you’ll need to match their bet to stay in the hand. If you don’t want to at least match the bet with a call, then you’ll need to fold your cards and forfeit the pot. You can use concepts like pot odds and equity to decide whether it’s worth calling versus folding.
- Calling vs raising: If you think you are ahead of your opponent’s range and want to stay in the pot, you’ll need to decide whether to match the bet or make a raise. Matching the bet keeps the pot smaller and allows you to make it to the next street or showdown as cheaply as possible. Raising allows you to inflate the pot. You may also want to raise as a bluff when you have the weakest hand but want to take down the pot.
Strategic Reasons to Call in Poker
Calling in poker involves matching the current bet. It’s the middle ground between folding and raising, as you’ll be paying the minimum amount required to continue in the hand.
However, calling also has several strategic benefits if used correctly. It can be used for pot control to keep the pot relatively small, allowing you to see the next card or make it to showdown with a medium-strength hand.
You can also flat call bets as a way to keep opponents in the hand with weaker cards. The thinking here is that, in some cases, making a raise can scare other players away. Calling can actually allow you to get more value on the next street.
If your opponent is betting as a bluff, for example, raising will force them to fold. Flat calling gives them a chance to bluff again on the next street, earning you more chips.
Calling for value is particularly useful if stack sizes are relatively small compared to the pot (low SPR), as you’ll have plenty of opportunities to play for stacks by the river by betting or calling future streets.
Just be careful not to use calling incorrectly, as doing so will quickly turn you into a passive player.
When to Call in Poker: Key Scenarios
Here are some key scenarios when it comes to calling in poker
Calling With a Draw
If you are facing a bet holding a flush draw or straight draw, you should always weigh up your pot odds compared to your equity in the hand to see if you have the right price to call. Depending on the situation, you can also turn your draws into semi-bluffs by raising.
For example:
- Player A: K♣ Q♣
- Player B: A♥ 5♥
- Flop: Q♥ 6♥ 2♠
Player A raises preflop, and Player B calls in the big blind. Player B checks, and Player A makes a continuation bet for a third of the pot. This gives Player B pot odds of 3:1, so they need 25 percent equity in the hand. Player B easily has the correct odds to call with their flush draw and overcard.
Calling for Pot Control
When you make a call in poker, you’ll often be doing so for pot control; to keep the pot relatively small when you have a medium strength hand that you don’t want to play for stacks.
For example:
- Player A: ?
- Player B: A♠ 8♠
- Flop: A♣ J♠ 3♦
Player A raises preflop from middle position, and Player B defends the big blind. Player B checks, and Player A bets. Player B has a fairly strong hand, but Player A could have an ace with a stronger kicker. If Player B check-raises, Player A can only call with stronger hands. Player B should call here to keep the pot small and keep weaker hands in the pot.
Calling for Deception and Value
Sometimes, you’ll have a very strong hand but still need to call rather than raise to extract the most value. In an ideal world, you’d raise, but doing so would force your opponent to fold too much of their range. Calling will allow the pot to develop and open up more potential for value on future streets.
For example:
- Player A: K♥ Q♣
- Player B: 5♠ 5♥
- Board: J♠ 5♥ 2♣ K♣
Player A made a continuation bet on the turn, and Player B decided to flat call the bet. If they had raised, Player A would have had to fold their hand. By flat calling, they gave Player A more chances to lose chips by continuing to bluff or by catching a pair. In this situation, Player A now has top pair and thinks they are ahead, making it easy for Player B to get more value on the turn.
Common Mistakes When Calling
As we’ve discussed, there are several strategic reasons to call in poker. Even when you have a value hand, calling can be preferable to making a raise, especially if the stack-to-pot ratio is low.
However, calling can quickly become a passive way to play or a way to avoid more difficult decisions like raising or folding. Here are the most common mistakes players make when it comes to calling:
- Calling Too Much Preflop: Limping hands preflop is nearly always a mistake, compared to raising and calling raises with mediocre hands, which can also land you in trouble. Keep your ranges balanced preflop and raise when you enter a pot.
- Calling With Weak Hands: One of the biggest mistakes new players make when it comes to calling is doing so without the correct pot odds and equity when holding mediocre hands.
- Paying Too Much for Draws: When deciding whether to call with a draw, you can work out your equity by counting your outs and comparing this to your pot odds. Paying too much when calling with draws is a big mistake.
- Playing Passively: Calling with purpose is very different to calling because you don’t know what to do or don’t have what it takes to raise or fold. Be careful not to turn calling into a passive way to play. Raising very much has its place in poker and is often a profitable betting line with strong hands.
Calling in Live Poker Versus Online Poker
Calling in live poker is the same as calling in online poker. The only difference is that in live poker, you’ll be physically handling chips and cards, whereas in online poker, you’ll be clicking buttons to confirm your decisions.
Calling Etiquette in Live Poker
Calling in live poker is relatively easy. All you have to do is match the current bet size made by your opponents. You can do this using exact chips or using larger denominations that at least cover the cost of the call.
Be aware that if you place a single chip in the middle without saying “raise”, this will be taken as a call. If you want to raise instead of calling, you can place multiple chips to increase the bet size, or a single chip and announce your raise.
Always act when it is your turn in live poker. Acting out of turn, such as calling a bet when someone else is yet to act, can be seriously disruptive to the flow of the game.
Calling in Online Poker
Calling in online poker is even simpler. You cannot act out of turn in online poker, because the site won’t let you.
On some online poker sites, you may be able to click the “call any” button to call any bet when the action gets to you, but this is not recommended. Instead, wait until it’s your turn, and then, if you want to call, click the corresponding button to match the bet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a call and a check?
A call is made to match the current bet and stay in the hand. A check can only be made if there is no current bet and allows you to stay in the pot by passing the action to the next player.
What is another word for call in poker?
“Call” is the main word used for matching a bet in poker. You may also hear people say “flat” or “flat call”.
Can I raise after a call?
Yes, if a player has called a bet in front of you, then you have the option to raise the bet by putting more than the required amount in the middle.
When should I never call in poker?
You shouldn’t call in poker if you do not have the pot odds or equity to make the call profitable. In simple terms, if you are behind your opponent’s range, you should consider folding.
Is it better to call or raise in poker?
Generally speaking, poker strategy favours aggressive actions like raising, but it all depends on the specific situation and what you are looking to achieve.