Poker Betting

When you are placed in the dealer's position, and only you and the blinds are left in the game, a raise is often called "blind-stealing". This is so as the blinds may fold, whereas if you didn't raise but simply called, the blinds would simply check. It is surely a good way to make a quid or two, but will never make you rich. It's more of a way to end the game fast and have a new hand dealt with more players & more money.

Poker Betting - The steal-raise

If you are last to act and all players have checked to you, betting to simply limit the number of players or take the pot is termed a steal-raise. Avoid using it exclusively, as better players will be onto you swiftly and begin check-raising against your almost certainly poor hand. It is good to use a steal raise when you have a brilliant drawing hand such as a nut flush draw. Players will tend to "check to the raiser". If you draw to your hand, you now get a larger pot to win. If you don't, you can always check, and expect the fifth card makes your hand.

Poker Betting - The check-raise

Check raising is checking to your adversary with the intention of luring them to bet, so that you can raise them back. Your intention is to tempt them into a false sense of security so that you can raise them and increase the pot. Ever remember, after one bet is committed, its more likely they would commit to two.