Introduction

• why you should play made hands aggressively
  
• when you can play strong draws aggressively / when to play according to the pot odds
  
• why you need a big hand to play for a big pot
  

You will rarely call a raise before the flop, simply because doing so is rarely profitable. You want to be in control when you play, which means being active and not making passive calls.

This situation will, however, arise, when you have a small pocket pair, for example. This is almost always the hand you will have when calling a raise before the flop. It's also an easy hand to play after the flop: Either you will have a set and try to go all-in or you won't hit a set, in which case you give up the hand.

It's also difficult for your opponents to get a read on you when you do hit a strong hand. You are only using your hole cards and a single community card, which makes your set much harder for your opponent to spot than a straight draw or a made flush, for example.

If you look at the Starting Hands Chart you will notice that the only time you ever directly call a raise is with a pair. There are, however, a few exceptions: 1) The raise is minimal in size, 2) other players have already called the raise.

You can call with suited connectors, as long as both of these criteria are met and you are in position. Just remember, you can only get paid off big when both you and your opponent have enough chips in your stacks.

There's no need to play a speculative hand against an opponent who only has half as many chips as you, since he doesn't have enough to pay you off if you make your hand. As a general rule of thumb you can call raises between 4-5 BBs when at least two players have already called and when you and your opponent(s) have 100 BBs or more in your stacks.

Before the flop - NL25 Blinds: $0.10/$0.25

You are on the BU

UTG1 calls $0.25 UTG2 and UTG3 fold MP1 calls $0.25 MP2 and MP3 fold CO ($25 Stack) raises to $1.25 You call $1.25

A relatively easy hand to play: A quick look at the Starting Hands Chart is all you need. You and the aggressor have full stacks. You follow the Call20 rule: Call a raise with pocket pairs when you and your opponent each have 20 * original raise in your stacks. This condition isn't quite met, but it's close and the blinds could still enter the hand.

Before the flop - NL25 Blinds: $0.10/$0.25

You are on the CO

UTG1 calls $0.25 UTG2 and UTG3 fold MP1 calls $0.25 MP2 folds MP3 raises to $0.50 You call $0.50

This time your decision is tougher: You have suited connectors and the raise is minimal. You also have position on the aggressor and others will probably enter the hand. You can call and look at the flop.

Before the flop - NL25 Blinds: $0.10/$0.25

You are the SB

UTG1, UTG2 and UTG3 fold MP1 raises to $1 MP2, MP3 and CO fold BU calls $1 You fold

Calling a raise with suited connectors in the SB position is practically a deadly sin in poker. You are playing a speculative hand out of position and on the defense. There's no way to play it profitably.

Before the flop - NL25 Blinds: $0.10/$0.25

You are on the CO

UTG1 raises to $0.75 UTG2, UTG3 and MP1 fold MP2, MP3 and you call $0.75

This is a close call. On one hand two players have already called and the raise was only 3 BBs. On the other hand there are other players behind you, so you can't be certain that you will be playing in position. You can call, but folding wouldn't be a mistake, either.