Flat Call
What Does Flat Call Mean in Poker?
Flat Call: A term in poker describing the action of matching a bet without raising, often indicating a player has a moderately strong hand but is cautious about the strength of their opponents’ hands.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Flat Call:
Players often mention flat calling when they want to see the next card without committing more chips, or when they believe raising might give away too much information about their hand strength. It’s a common term in both live and online poker games.
In-Game Example:
You’re in a $1/$2 cash game holding JJ. The player before you raises to $6. Instead of re-raising, you flat call, preferring to keep your hand strength disguised.
Strategy / Tips:
- Best Practice: Use a flat call to keep pots small with speculative hands or to control the pot size with strong but vulnerable hands.
- Common Mistake: Flat calling too often with weak hands, leading to difficult decisions on later streets.
- Pro Tips: Flat calling can be a strategic play in tournaments to avoid risking your stack unnecessarily, especially when near the bubble.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: In live games, flat calling can be used to gather physical tells from opponents, whereas online it can be more about controlling the pot size and avoiding aggressive dynamics.
Alternative names:
Also known as “smooth call” or sometimes “cold call” when used in multi-way pots.
FAQs:
- Q: Why flat call instead of raising?
A: Flat calling can be a way to keep your opponent’s weaker hands in the pot or to see a cheap showdown with a marginal hand. - Q: Is flat calling considered passive?
A: It can be, but when used strategically, it can also be a tool for deception and control.
