Betting concept

Open in Poker — What It Means and When to Use It

Open is a betting move. Here's exactly what it means, when it's right, and when to avoid it.

Quick answer

Open — The first preflop raise after the blinds.

In more detail

Standard sizes: 2.5–3x BB online 6-max, 2.2x at higher stakes. Opening ranges depend heavily on position.

Common questions

What does Open mean in poker?

Standard sizes: 2.5–3x BB online 6-max, 2.2x at higher stakes. Opening ranges depend heavily on position.

Related terms

All-In
Betting all your remaining chips.
Ante
A forced bet all players must post before each hand.
Barrel
A continuation bet on a later street (double = flop+turn, triple = + river).
Blind
A forced bet posted before the cards are dealt.

New to poker? Start with our preflop strategy guide and the free TAG cheatsheet.