Blinds 20/40, nobody has raised yet
The big blind counts as the opening bet.
With no chips in yet, call 40. The smallest raise is to 80.
The big blind already has 40 in: they can check if nobody raised, or add 40 to raise to 80.
Learn. Understand. Take your seat.
Minimum bet and raise in Texas Hold’em
In no-limit Texas Hold’em, the minimum full opening bet is the big blind. A raise must add at least the size of the last full bet or raise. “Raise to” means your total bet for this round.
Before the flop vs later rounds
Before the flop, the blinds already count as the opening bet. You can call the big blind or raise; you can’t make a separate opening bet.
On the flop, turn and river, if nobody has bet yet, the smallest full bet is the big blind. Short all-ins are the exception (see below).
Worked chip examples
Someone bets 100, another player raises to 250
The raise increase was 150 (250 − 100).
The next smallest raise is to 400 (250 + 150).
The player who bet 100 adds 300 more to raise to 400.
Blind 40, a player raises to 140 before the flop
The raise increase was 100 (140 − 40).
The next smallest raise is to 240 (140 + 100).
Not 280: you add the last increase, you don’t double the bet.
The simple rule: minimum raise to = current bet + last full increase. It is only “double the bet” when the last increase happens to equal the whole bet.
Minimum bet and raise calculator
For full bets and raises only. It shows amounts, not whether an action is available to you: short all-ins and whether betting has reopened can’t be worked out from these numbers.
The calculator updates as you type once the page has loaded. The worked examples above give the same answers.
Example: You posted the small blind of 20. Nobody has raised. Add 20 to call, or add 60 to raise to 80 total.
Minimum raise to: 80
You add 60 more to make that raise. To call, add 20.
40 + last increase 40 = 80.
Assumes enough chips and a valid sequence of full bets and raises. This calculator does not check earlier actions, short all-ins or whether you are allowed to raise.
What about short all-ins?
When betting is open to you, you may go all-in even if you cannot make a full raise. That all-in is not always a full raise, so it doesn’t necessarily let players who have already acted raise again. Several short all-ins can add up to a full raise and reopen the betting. Exact handling can vary, so check your table’s or tournament’s rules.
How many times can you re-raise?
In no-limit Hold’em there is no fixed cap on ordinary re-raises. Each one must be a full raise, players are limited by their chips, and betting must still be open to them. Fixed-limit games are different: bets come in set sizes and rooms often cap the number of raises.
Bet size is a choice, not a guarantee. A bigger raise does not improve your cards or guarantee a win.
Practice betting at the table