Flat Call

A flat call in poker refers to a situation where a player chooses to call a bet without raising. This term is commonly used in all poker variants.

Understanding a Flat Call

In poker, a flat call refers to when a player decides to simply call a bet without choosing to raise. This action is often used when a player has a good, but not great, hand and wants to see more cards without escalating the pot. A flat call can also be used as part of a strategic move to disguise the strength of a player's hand or to trap an aggressive opponent.

Impact of a Flat Call on Game Strategy

Making a flat call can significantly influence a player's strategy in a poker game. By flat calling, a player can control the pot size, keep the betting round open, and potentially induce bluffs from aggressive opponents. However, it can also allow opponents with weaker hands to see more cards and possibly improve their hands.

Example of "Flat Call"

For example, in a game of Texas Hold'em, if a player is dealt a pair of Jacks and an opponent raises before the flop, the player might choose to flat call. This decision to flat call could be made to avoid a re-raise from their opponent or to disguise the strength of their hand.

• "John decided to flat call to control the pot size and see the next card."
• "Mary made a flat call with her strong hand to disguise its strength and induce a bluff from her opponent."
• "Despite having a strong hand, Tom decided to flat call to avoid escalating the pot."