Taking the initiative is making the aggressive plays during the betting round. This involves betting and raising. You do not gain initiative if you just call or check.

When do you take the initiative

The most common time to take the initiative is before the dealer makes the flop. There is always a high probability that there will someone who will raise and there will be callers to follow. Of course there is always the chance during the turn or the river.

Again, the player that shows the fang on the poker table is the player with the initiative. The initiative will move from one player to another on different betting rounds. It is up to you to make the impression that you have the strongest hand and dominate the table.

Why you should have the initiative

Taking the initiative gives you several advantages. When you raise or when you bet on a hand, you give the cards you are holding unlimited strength. Image is very important in poker. When you have the initiative you are taking the helm and you will control the table as people will wait for you to make your move.

You will also make life difficult for your opponent since they cannot put your cards on a certain range and cannot estimate how they should play against it. When you have the initiative and play aggressive, you push the other players to the edge. You force them to make difficult decisions. The tougher they handle, the more mistakes they will make. You can lure them to your trap and you will go home with more poker money in hand.