What Is the Difference Between Bet and Raise in Poker?

In poker, betting is the act of placing chips into the pot, while raising is the act of increasing the size of the bet. The key difference between bet and raise is that a bet is simply a wager, while a raise requires an opponent to match the new, higher bet.

A bet can be any size, from a single chip to the entire pot. A raise must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise; for example, if the first player bets 10 chips and the second raises to 20, the third player can either call (match the 20-chip bet) or fold.

PRO TIP:In poker, betting is when you put chips into the pot without any other players having bet in that round. Raising is when you increase the amount of the bet after another player has already bet in that round.

If all players except one fold after a betting round, the remaining player wins the pot without having to show his or her cards. If two or more players are still in after the final betting round, they proceed to a showdown, where each player reveals his or her hand and the highest-ranking hand wins.

In general, betting is used when players think they have a good hand and want to win more money; raising is used when players want to make their opponents think they have a better hand than they actually do. Of course, there are many other strategies and tactics involved in poker, but understanding the difference between bet and raise is a good place to start.