Poker Glossary
Poker glossary

Backraise

A backraise is a re-raise made by a player who originally called in the same betting round.

The simple explanation

A backraise is a re-raise by a player who first called, in the same betting round. You call a bet, another player raises behind you, and when the action returns to you, you raise again. It is a strong play because it comes from a player who seemed to be only calling.

A closer look

The backraise can build a big pot with a strong hand or trap an aggressive player. It works best when the first raiser is likely to continue, since he has already shown aggression. The risk is that the first caller has put chips in before the raise, so folding is more costly. In limit games, where the number of raises is limited, backraises are common.

A practical example

Player B bets, Player C calls, Player A raises, and Player B folds. Player C then raises again. Player C's raise after the earlier call is a backraise.

Full explanation

A backraise is a re-raise made by a player who originally called in the same betting round.

A backraise is a re-raise by a player who originally called a bet or raise in the same betting round.

A player may use it to trap aggressive opponents or to build a bigger pot with a very strong hand.

The sequence of actions is call, a raise from somebody else, then the raise by the first caller.

It is related to back-raise and back-shove.

Alternative spelling: back-raise, back raise

A backraise

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN). Player B posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player C posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

  1. Preflop · Pot: 3 chips

    The blinds are 1 and 2 chips.

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
  2. Preflop · Pot: 9 chips

    Player A raises to 6 before the flop.

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
  3. Preflop · Pot: 14 chips

    Player B calls 5 more.

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
  4. Preflop · Pot: 18 chips

    Player C calls 4 more. Each player has put in 6 chips.

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
  5. Flop · Pot: 18 chips

    The flop is dealt. The small blind acts first after the flop.

    Board: 9 of clubs (9c)5 of spades (5s)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
  6. Flop · Pot: 24 chips

    Player B bets 6.

    Board: 9 of clubs (9c)5 of spades (5s)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
  7. Flop · Pot: 30 chips

    Player C calls the 6-chip bet.

    Board: 9 of clubs (9c)5 of spades (5s)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
  8. Flop · Pot: 50 chips

    Player A raises to 20.

    Board: 9 of clubs (9c)5 of spades (5s)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 174 · In this round 20
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
  9. Flop · Pot: 50 chips

    Player B folds.

    Board: 9 of clubs (9c)5 of spades (5s)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 174 · In this round 20
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 188 · In this round 6 · Folded
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
  10. Flop · Pot: 98 chips

    Player C called earlier and now raises to 54. A raise by a player who first called is a backraise.

    Board: 9 of clubs (9c)5 of spades (5s)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN King of spades (Ks)King of hearts (Kh) · Stack 174 · In this round 20
    • Player B SB Ace of clubs (Ac)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 188 · In this round 6 · Folded
    • Player C BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 140 · In this round 54

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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