Reraising

Reraising is a term used in poker to describe a raise made after another player has already raised. It is most commonly discussed in no-limit and pot-limit games, where players may bet any amount. When the action occurs preflop, a reraise is usually called a 3-bet; a further raise after a 3-bet is a 4-bet. Postflop, a reraise occurs when a player raises after an opponent has already bet or raised; this is less frequent but still a standard tool for applying pressure or extracting value.

Purpose and signaling: A reraise typically signals that the aggressor believes their hand or range has the advantage and wants to define or shrink the field. It can build a larger pot with a strong hand, price out speculative hands, or isolate one opponent by pricing others out of the pot. The decision to reraise depends on position, stack sizes, table dynamics, and the perceived strength of opponents’ ranges.

Sizing and strategy: Reraising sizes vary with game style and objectives. A common goal is to choose a size that balances pot commitment with fold equity, while not committing excessive resources with marginal hands. In early position, players tend to reraises more cautiously, whereas on later streets or from the button, larger raises may be used to exert greater pressure. Against frequent callers, smaller 3-bets can be chosen to manage pot size; against tight or predictable opponents, larger bets can be employed to polarize ranges.

Impact and limitations: Reraising is a powerful tool but can backfire if misread or overused, leading to large pots with weak or marginal hands. It is less common in limit games and in short-stacked situations.