What is a Single Raised Pot in Poker?

Introduction

In Poker, not all pots are created equal. While three-bet and four-bet pots get a lot of attention, single raised pots (SRPs) make up the majority of hands played.

SRPs require a balance of aggression and adaptability. This blog will explore the strategies for playing single-raised pots and help you avoid costly mistakes.

What is a Single Raised Pot?

A Single Raised Pot occurs when a player raises preflop and one or more opponents call without any further re-raising (3-betting). These are the most common situations in Poker, requiring strategic play across multiple streets to maximize profits and minimize losses.

Strategies for Single Raised Pot

Preflop Strategy

Your preflop strategy should depend on your table position and whether you will play in or out of position post-flop. Playing tight in the early position and looser in the late position ensures you maximize equity while avoiding difficult post-flop situations.

Early Position

Players in early position should stick to premium hands (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ) since they will be out of position postflop against many opponents. Raising weaker hands is risky because many players are left to act, increasing the chance of facing a strong hand.

Middle Position

From the middle position, you can open a slightly wider range, including KQ, ATs, QJs, and medium pocket pairs (99-66). While this spot offers more flexibility than early position, caution is still necessary if you are facing a raise.

Late Position

The late position allows you to steal blinds and control postflop play, so you can raise a much wider range, including suited connectors, weaker aces, and broadway hands. Since you’ll often play in position, postflop decision-making becomes easier and more profitable.

Small Blind (SB) & Big Blind (BB)

The Small Blind should play tight, as it will always be out of position postflop, making hands harder to play. The Big Blind can defend wider, as it gets better pot odds and has the last action preflop, but should still be careful against strong raises.

Postflop Strategy

Your approach on the flop should depend on the situation on the board, position, and opponent tendencies, helping you decide whether to bet, check, call, or fold. Certain flop types favor the preflop raiser, while others help the caller.

Wet Flops (Draw-Heavy) – Example: J♠ 9♠ 7♦

A wet flop contains many possible straight and flush draws, making it dangerous for one-pair hands. If you raised preflop, consider betting small in position but checking when out of position to control the pot and avoid getting check-raised.

Dry Flops (Uncoordinated) – Example: A♣ 8♦ 2♠

These favor the preflop raiser, as they often contain high cards that connect with the raiser's range. A small continuation bet (C-bet) around 33-50% pot will often take down the pot, as opponents rarely connect with these boards.

Paired Flops – Example: 10♠ 10♣ 4♦

Paired boards are great for C-betting, as opponents rarely hit trips or a full house. If you are the aggressor, betting small can often win the pot unless an opponent has a pocket pair or a ten.

Monotone Flops (Same Suit) – Example: Q♠ 7♠ 3♠

Flops with three cards of the same suit are tricky because flushes are possible from the start. If you don’t have a flush or a strong draw, it’s often best to check and control the pot rather than betting aggressively.

Strategy Based on Opponent Types

Understanding your opponent’s tendencies allows you to adjust your strategy and exploit their weaknesses in SRPs. Some players are easy to bluff, while others require a value-heavy approach.

Tight-Passive Opponent

These opponents fold too often and only play strong hands, making them easy to exploit. Against them, C-bet frequently to take advantage of their tendency to fold, but slow down if they call or raise.

Loose-Passive Opponent

These players call too much but rarely raise, making them ideal targets for value betting. Bluffing is usually ineffective, so focus on building the pot with strong hands rather than trying to force folds.

Tight-Aggressive (TAG) Opponent

TAG players are disciplined and hard to bluff, so avoid making unnecessary bluffs against them. Instead, trap them with strong hands and use delayed C-bets to keep them off balance.

Loose-Aggressive (LAG) Opponent

LAG players bet and raise frequently, so slow-playing premium hands can be highly effective. Since they often apply pressure, it’s best to let them build the pot and then punish their aggression when you have a strong hand.

Turn and River Play in SRPs

The later streets require careful decision-making, as the pot grows and opponents’ ranges narrow. Betting and checking should be based on the board and your opponent’s behavior.

Turn Play

The turn is a crucial street where you must decide whether to continue betting or slow down. If you C-bet the flop and get called, only bet again if the turn improves your range (e.g., an overcard appears) or if you have strong equity with a draw.

River Play

On the river, if an opponent has called twice, they likely have a strong hand and will not fold easily. Be selective with bluffs, and consider using blocker bets (small bets) to avoid facing a large bet from your opponent.

Bet Sizing in SRPs

Choosing the right bet size allows you to extract value and apply pressure effectively, making it a key part of SRP strategy.

Small Bet (~25-33% of the pot)

This size is best for dry boards where opponents likely missed, and a small bet accomplishes the same as a larger one. It also induces light calls, allowing you to set up a bigger bet on later streets.

Medium Bet (~50% of the pot)

A balanced bet size that works well for both value hands and strong bluffs, applying steady pressure while keeping your options open. This is the most common bet size for C-bets in SRPs.

Large Bet (~75-100% of the pot)

This bet size is used to polarize your range, making it appear like you have either a very strong hand or a big bluff. It’s most effective against opponents who fold too much or when you want to maximize value from a strong holding.

Multiway SRPs (3+ Players Involved)

When multiple players call a preflop raise, hand strengths shift, and bluffing becomes more difficult.

Tighter Postflop Play

In multiway pots, strong hands are needed to continue, as the chance of someone having a better hand increases greatly. Avoid making thin value bets and focus on betting for strong value.

Reduce Bluffing

Since multiple opponents remain in the hand, bluffing becomes far less effective. It’s better to avoid unnecessary risks unless you have a strong read on the table.

Position Becomes More Important

Being in position is even more valuable in multiway pots since it allows you to see how others act before making decisions. This lets you control pot size and extract maximum value.

Psychological Tactics for SRPs

Poker is not just about math and odds—it’s also about psychology and adjusting based on the situation on the table.

Table Image Matters

If you have been playing aggressively, opponents will call you down more often, so you should bluff less and value bet more. Conversely, if you've been tight, your bluffs will be more believable.

Exploit Recency Bias

If an opponent just lost a big hand, they might be tilting and playing recklessly, allowing you to trap them. If they just won a big hand, they might be overconfident and more likely to call with weak hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you always continuation bet in a single raised pot?

No. While c-betting is a strong strategy, you should mix in checks on boards that favor your opponent's range. Dry boards (e.g., A-7-2) are great for small c-bets, while coordinated boards (e.g., J-10-8) require a more selective approach.

How to defend your big blind in single raised pots?

Defend with a wide range, including suited connectors, broadways, and pocket pairs, especially against late-position raisers. Avoid calling with weak hands if out of position. Consider three-betting strong hands like AQ+ and TT+ instead of just calling.

What’s the biggest mistake in single raised pots?

One of the biggest mistakes is over-bluffing, especially on wet boards where opponents are unlikely to fold. Another common error is failing to adjust bet sizes—bet too large, and you risk losing value; bet too small, and you invite unnecessary calls.

Conclusion

Single raised pots are among the most frequent situations in poker. Since they occur in almost every hand, understanding how to manage them efficiently is crucial for long-term profitability. The ability to extract value and apply pressure in SRPs is what separates strong players from the rest.