[ungarstu132]

The Gap Concept is very well known among intermediate to advanced poker players. The difference between the hands would would CALL A RAISE with, and the hands you would RAISE with is refered to as the "Gap Concept".

In holdem, you can raise with quite a variety of hands, BUT you would NOT CALL A RAISE with that wide variety of hands. The hands you would CALL A RAISE with would have to be much stronger.

For example:

Seat 1-SB 50
Seat 2-BB 100
Seat 3-Folds
Seat 4-Folds
ME (seat 5)- I hold AJ, a decent hand, and im in middle position, so i will raise to 350 (a standard raise, see Do you use it #1-The standard raise for more details)

BUT, say that this happened

Seat 1-SB 50
Seat 2-BB 100
Seat 3-Folds
Seat 4- Bets 350
ME (seat 5)-I still hold AJ, but i definatly am not going to call or raise with this hand because there is a raise in front of me. I am folding without even thinking. This is called the GAP CONCEPT.

See, i would raise with AJ if there were no prior bets, but once sombody bets before me, i am folding my AJ.

This shows that it takes a STRONGER hand to CALL a raise, than it does to MAKE A RAISE.

Many players make the mistake of not knowing what the Gap Concept is. If you call a raise with AJ everytime, you will net a LARGE LOSS. And this applies to MANY of those hands you would raise with, that ARE NOT premium hands.

I hope many players here can learn from this and improve their game !!

I would like to hear other opinions on this, and if you use the GAP CONCEPT or not.

Im glad I can help this community on poker players !!