You Are Better Off Raising
I often see players at the table just calling bets, but seldom raising. These players seem a bit timid and are not really sure where they stand in the hand. They are hurting themselves in the long run, because betting and raising usually gives them the best chance of being successful at the poker table. If you call a person’s bet, the only way you can win the pot is if you end up with the best hand at the showdown. However, if you bet or raise, not only can you win the pot if you have the best hand, but there is also a chance that your opponent can fold. This gives you another opportunity to win their money.
There are other reasons why betting and raising will help you be successful. The main reason is because you are building the pot when you have a good hand. You may hit a royal flush, but if the pot is small because you didn’t raise, well you didn’t do your job! You want the pot to be big when you hold strong hands, and raising is the best way to build large pots.
Another reason why you want to raise your good hands is because you want to protect them. By forcing other players to call multiple bets, and consequently getting them to fold, your hand has a much better chance of holding up. The chances of your hand holding up decreases with each extra player that is in the hand. Narrow down the field with your strong but vulnerable hands like top pair.
Furthermore, another reason why you want to bet and raise is because you want players who are looking to outdraw you to pay as much as possible to catch their draws. You don’t want to give other players free cards, and you want to make sure that if they continue in the hand, they are not getting the proper pot odds. By being aggressive, you will force your opponents to make mistakes.