Part 2? Are you kidding me with this much fun? I must also address two previously covered rules that some seem to have forgotten (or never learned) so buckle in.
Rule 42: Methods of Raising
In no-limit or pot-limit, a raise must be made by A) pushing out the full amount in one motion or B) verbally declaring the full amount prior to pushing out chips. It is the responsibility of players to make their intentions clear. Note: 2-motion raises eliminated in 2019.
Understanding the Raise Rule
This rule should be straightforward, yet I still see players raising incorrectly—frequently. That’s likely because, prior to 2019, this behavior was allowed. Let me break it down for you.
Here’s what often happens: A player announces a raise but first completes the call while deciding how much to raise. However, as outlined in Rule 42, this is no longer acceptable.
The Correct Way to Raise
You now have two options when raising:
A. Put out the entire raise amount in one motion.
B. Announce the amount of your raise first, then place your chips in the pot. If you choose this option, you may place the chips one at a time.
If you simply complete the call after announcing a raise, that will be considered your one motion. At that point, you’ll be committed to making only the minimum raise—no more.
Keep this in mind to avoid confusion or penalties during play. Let’s all aim for clean, proper raises moving forward!
And how much is that minimum raise? Let's check rule 43:
43: Raise Amounts
A: A raise must be at least equal to the largest prior full bet or raise of the current betting round. A player who raises 50% or more of the largest prior bet but less than a minimum raise must make a full minimum raise. If less than 50% it is a call unless “raise” is first declared or the player is all-in (Rule 45-B). Declaring an amount or pushing out the same amount of chips is treated the same (Rule 40-C). Ex: NLHE, opening bet is 1000, verbally declaring “Fourteen hundred” or silently pushing out 1400 in chips are both calls unless raise is first declared.
“The largest prior full bet or raise of the current betting round”.
This line refers to the largest additional action or “last legal increment” by a preceding bettor in the current round. The current round is the “current street”, i.e. pre-flop, flop, turn, river in board games; 3rd – 4th – 5th – 6th – 7th street in 7-stud, etc.
Example 1: NLHE, Blinds 100-200. Post-flop, A opens with a bet of 600. B raises 1000 for total of 1600. C re-raises 2000 for total of 3600. If D wants to raise, he must at least raise the “largest bet or raise of the current round”, which is C’s raise of 2000. So, D must re-raise at least 2000 more for a total of 5600. Note that D’s minimum raise is not 3600 (C’s total bet), but only 2000, the additional raise action that C added.
Example 2: NLHE, Blinds 50-100. Pre-flop A is under the gun and goes all-in for a total of 150 (an increase in the bet of 50). So, we have a 100 blind bet and an all-in wager that increases the total by 50. Which is larger? The 100 is still the “largest bet or raise of the current round”, so if B wants to re-raise he must raise at least 100 for a total of 250.
Example 3: NLHE, Blinds 100-200. On the turn A bets 300. B pushes out two 500 chips making the total 1000 (a 700 raise). It is 1000 to C to call. If C wants to raise, it must be “at least the largest bet or raise of the current round”, which is B’s raise of 700. So, C’s minimum raise would be 700 for a total of 1700. Note his minimum raise is not 1000, B’s total bet.
Example 4-A: NLHE, Blinds 25-50. A raises 75 to 125 total. Notice that 125 total = 50 (bet) plus 75 (raise). The next raise on this street must be “at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise”, which is 75. B now raises the minimum (75) to 200 total. C then re-raises 300 for total of 500. We now have a bet of 50, two raises of 75 and a raise of 300 for total of 500. If D wants to re-raise, “the raise must be at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise of the current betting round”, which is now 300. So, D must raise at least 300 more to a total of 800.
Example 4-B: Same as 4-A. It’s the same 500 to D, but there’s just been one raise of 450 by A to a total of 500 and B and C have both called. So, there’s a blind bet of 50 and a raise of 450. “A raise must be at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise of the current betting round”, which is A’s raise of 450. So, it’s 500 for D to call, and if D wants to re-raise he must raise at least 450 for a total of 950.
B: Without other clarifying information, declaring raise and an amount is the total bet. Ex: A opens for 2000, B declares “Raise, eight thousand.” The total bet is 8000.
Clarifying What Constitutes a Raise
Understanding the examples provided should make it clearer how raises are determined. The key takeaway is this: a raise isn’t always double the previous bet—it must be at least as large as the biggest bet or raise made during the betting round so far.
Example 1: The 1600 Bet and All-In
In last night’s game, here’s what happened:
Player A bet 1600.
Player B went all-in for 2500, which is a raise of only 900.
Since Player B’s raise didn’t exceed Player A’s initial 1600 bet, the largest bet of the round remains Player A’s 1600.
If Player C wants to raise, they must make it at least 4100. This includes Player B’s 2500 all-in plus an additional raise of 1600, matching the largest bet or raise of the round.
Example 2: The 10k/20k Blinds and a Miscalculated Bet
Another example from last night’s game involved blinds at 10k/20k.
Player A announced a bet of 30k, unaware that the blinds had just increased.
According to Rule 45-B, “A player who raises 50% or more of the largest prior bet but less than a minimum raise must make a full minimum raise. If less than 50%, it is a call unless ‘raise’ is declared or the player is all-in.”
Here’s how it played out:
Player A only announced the amount (30k) and did not use the word "raise."
Since 30k is 50% or more of the prior largest bet (the 20k big blind), Player A was committed to a full minimum raise of 40k.
Had Player A stated 25k (less than 50% of the prior largest bet), it would have been treated as a call.
If Player A had declared “raise to 25k,” the word raise would have committed them to a full raise of 40k, even though the amount was less than 50% of the largest prior bet.
Key Points to Remember
A raise must be at least as large as the biggest bet or raise made so far in the round.
A bet that’s 50% or more of the largest prior bet but less than a minimum raise commits the player to a full minimum raise.
If less than 50%, it’s treated as a call unless the player explicitly declares “raise” or is all-in.
These rules ensure consistency and clarity during the game. Keeping them in mind will help avoid confusion and ensure fair play.
Dead Man's Hand Poker uses the rules set forth by the Poker Tournament Directors Association. The Poker TDA is a voluntary poker industry association founded in 2001. The TDA mission is to increase global uniformity of poker tournament rules. The Poker TDA rules can be found here.
As this is an amateur league in a sometimes-noisy setting it is very easy to have confusion. I find the best and clearest way to raise is to announce "RRRaise" and the amount you want to increase the wager too.