In our games, most hands start the same way: several players “limp” into the pot (that means just calling the big blind instead of raising), and suddenly we’re all hoping the flop gives us something.

It’s fun, but here’s the truth:
👉 You’ll win more pots, and the pots you win will often be bigger, if you raise before the flop.

For this first tip, we’re not talking about complicated raise sizes or advanced math. Just try this one simple adjustment:

When you want to play a hand, raise to 2 big blinds instead of limping.

Here’s why:

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1. Raising Wins You Pots Immediately

When everyone folds, you don’t just “win the blinds”—you win a chunk of chips that grows bigger and bigger as the blinds increase. Later in the tournament, even a small pot like that can equal 5–10% of your stack. That’s a fantastic result for almost no risk.

Limping guarantees you’ll have to fight it out on the flop. Raising gives you a chance to take the money right now.

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2. Raising Means Fewer Opponents

The more players in the hand, the stronger a hand you’ll need at showdown.

• In a heads-up pot, one pair—or sometimes even ace-high—can be enough to win.
• In a six-way pot, you’ll often need two pair, trips, or even stronger to survive.

That’s why limping is sneaky-dangerous: it feels safe, but it often leads to bigger losses when your “decent” hand (like one pair) gets crushed by someone else’s better hand.

Raising narrows the field, so you can win more often with smaller hands and avoid the “death by a thousand callers” trap.

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3. Raising Builds Pots You Can Actually Win

Worried that everyone will fold if you raise? Don’t be—our players love to call.

And here’s the kicker: the pot you play for will often be just as big—or bigger—but against fewer opponents.

• Limped pot: 6 players × 1 big blind = 6 big blinds in the middle.
• Raised pot: 3 players × 2 big blinds = also 6 big blinds… but now you only have to beat 2 people instead of 5.

Same reward. Better odds.

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4. Common Objections

• “I don’t want to risk more chips.”
  Limping feels cheap, but it usually creates pots where you’ll lose more later. Raising risks a little more up front, but it protects you from those bloated, multiway disasters.
• “But I want to play lots of hands.”
  Playing fewer but stronger hands—and raising them—will actually make you a more dangerous player. Limping just to “see a flop” bleeds chips over time. Raise or fold is the stronger plan.
• “But if I raise, everyone will fold.”
  Trust us—they won’t. But even if they do, you still won a valuable pot. And when they call, you’re now building a pot that’s worth winning.

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Simple Challenge for Next Game

At our next tournament, try this:

👉 Anytime you’re the first player into the pot with a hand you like, put in a raise to 2 big blinds instead of limping.

It’s simple. It’s affordable. And it will instantly make you tougher to beat.

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What’s Next

There are times when calling (limping) makes sense—like when others have already limped in front of you, or when you’re short-stacked on the button. We’ll cover those situations in future tips.

But for now, here’s the best first step:
👉 When no one else is in the pot yet, think “raise or fold.”

If you make just this one change, you’ll already be way ahead of the competition.