Play Back
To play back is to raise or re-raise another player's bet. It is a way to answer aggression with aggression.
The simple explanation
If someone bets and you raise, you play back at him. It shows that you are not afraid of his bet.
A closer look
Playing back at an aggressive player can win a pot or stop him from bluffing. It is risky if he has a strong hand. You should choose spots where your hand or the board gives you a reason.
A practical example
An aggressive player bets, and you raise with a strong hand. You have played back at him.
Full explanation
To play back is to raise or re-raise another player’s bet. It is a way to answer aggression with aggression.
To play back is to raise a bet.
It is an answer to aggression.
It can stop a bluffer.
It is risky against strong hands.
See a 3-bet
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Before the flop, the big blind counts as the first bet.
Read the example transcript
Player B has the button (BTN). Player C posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player D posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Before the flop, the big blind counts as the first bet.
- Player B BTN AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player C SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player D BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player A JJack of clubs (Jc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
Player A raises to 6 chips. This is the first raise, sometimes called a 2-bet.
- Player B BTN AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player C SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player D BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player A JJack of clubs (Jc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Preflop · Pot: 27 chips
Player B raises again, to 18 chips. This re-raise is the 3-bet.
- Player B BTN AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad) · Stack 182 · In this round 18
- Player C SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player D BB KKing of spades (Ks)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player A JJack of clubs (Jc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.