Isolation
Isolation is a strategy in which a player raises to force the other players to fold, leaving him heads-up against the original bettor. The raiser isolates one opponent.
The simple explanation
If a weak player limps, a stronger player can raise large to push the others out and play against the weak player alone.
A closer look
Isolation works best when the player you target is weak or loose and you have position and a good hand. The raise is usually bigger than normal to discourage the others. It is common against limpers and against short stacks that are all in. Be careful: if the others call or re-raise, your hand may be in a hard spot.
A practical example
A weak player limps. A good player on the button raises to 6 to isolate the limper, and everyone else folds.
Full explanation
Isolation is a strategy in which a player raises to force the other players to fold, leaving him heads-up against the original bettor. The raiser isolates one opponent.
Isolation is raising to play heads-up against one opponent.
It is common against weak limpers.
Position and a good hand help.
The raise is bigger than normal.
Isolating a limper
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Four players are dealt in.
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).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Four players are dealt in.
- Player A BTN AAce of diamonds (Ad)QQueen of clubs (Qc) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player B SB 77 of spades (7s)44 of clubs (4c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB JJack of hearts (Jh)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player D 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Preflop · Pot: 5 chips
The player on the cutoff limps, calling the big blind of 2.
- Player A BTN AAce of diamonds (Ad)QQueen of clubs (Qc) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player B SB 77 of spades (7s)44 of clubs (4c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB JJack of hearts (Jh)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player D 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 13 chips
Player A on the button raises to 8 to isolate the limper. The raise aims to play against only one opponent, with the best hand.
- Player A BTN AAce of diamonds (Ad)QQueen of clubs (Qc) · Stack 192 · In this round 8
- Player B SB 77 of spades (7s)44 of clubs (4c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB JJack of hearts (Jh)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player D 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.