An open raise is the first voluntary raise in a pot. There's no magic size. What matters is how your range changes as fewer players remain behind you.
Position decides how wide you open
At a nine-handed table, under the gun has eight players behind. Any of them could wake up with A-A or K-K, and you'll be out of position against most of them after the flop. So your range from early position should be tight.
On the button, only the two blinds are left, and you'll act last on every street. You can open a lot more hands.
| Seat (9-handed) | Rough share of hands | Sample opens |
|---|---|---|
| Under the gun | About 10 to 14% | 77+, AJs+, KQs, AQo+ |
| Middle position | About 15 to 20% | Adds 55-66, ATs, KJs, QJs, JTs, AJo |
| Cutoff | About 25 to 30% | Adds small pairs, suited aces, suited connectors, KQo |
| Button | About 40 to 50% | Adds most suited hands, K9o, QTo, J9s, 76s |
Treat these as starting points, not rules. Read preflop ranges for how to read the notation and poker positions for the seat names.
Same hand, different seat
K♦9♣ under the gun is a fold. When it gets called or raised, it's often dominated by K-Q, K-J and A-K, and you're out of position. The same K♦9♣ on the button, folded to you, is a standard open: you only have to get through two players, and you have position if one of them calls.
A♠5♠ follows the same pattern. It's a fold or a borderline open early, and a clear open from the cutoff or button.
How much to raise
Online, opens are usually small, around 2 to 2.5 big blinds. Live games play differently because players call more often preflop. At $1/$3, opens of $10 to $15 are common, and at some tables $20 is what it takes to thin the field.
A simple live baseline: raise to about 4 or 5 big blinds, and add one big blind for each player who limped in front of you. At $1/$3:
- Folded to you: raise to $12 to $15.
- One limper: raise to about $18.
- Two limpers: raise to about $21.
Then watch the table. If $15 still gets four callers every time, go bigger with your whole range. If everyone folds to $12, you don't need $20.
Don't size by hand strength
If you raise to $25 with A-A and $10 with 8-7 suited, observant regulars will spot it within an hour. Use the same size for every hand you open from a given seat in a given game. It's also simpler to execute when you're tired.
Is limping ever OK?
Beginners do well with a raise-or-fold rule when first in. It keeps decisions simple and gives you the initiative. That said, over-limping (calling behind one or more limpers) can be reasonable at some live tables. Say three players have limped at $1/$3 and you're on the button with 6♥5♥. A raise has to be big to do anything, and you're happy to see a cheap flop in a multiway pot where a straight or flush can win a big one.
Open-limping first in is a different story. It usually just invites a raise and puts you in a tough spot.
Think one step ahead
Before you open, know what you'll do if someone 3-bets. A hand like A♠5♠ can be a good hand to fold, call or 4-bet bluff depending on the player. A hand like K♦J♣ from early position often has to fold to a 3-bet, which is another reason not to open it there. For more, see 3-betting and calling preflop raises.
Common questions
What is an open raise in poker?
An open raise is the first raise in a pot before the flop, made when everyone before you has folded or there's no raise yet. It's usually the first voluntary bet above the big blind.
How much should I open raise at $1/$3 live?
A common baseline is $12 to $15 when folded to you, plus about $3 for each limper. Adjust up if the table keeps calling and down if everyone folds.
How many hands should I open on the button?
At a full table, many solid players open around 40 to 50% of hands on the button when it folds to them, including most suited hands and many offsuit broadway hands.
Should beginners ever limp?
Open-limping first in is usually a mistake. Calling behind several limpers in late position with a hand like a small pair or suited connector can be fine in loose live games.
By the TorontoPoker.org editorial team · Updated September 2026 · 19+ · Play responsibly