This tactic is often used to disguise the strength of the player’s hand, allowing them to keep more opponents in the pot and potentially increase the size of future bets. By not raising, the player might induce opponents to stay in the hand, betting or calling, without realizing they are likely facing a strong hand.
Smooth Call Example
For example, in a Texas Hold’em game, a player holding pocket Aces might smooth call a pre-flop bet instead of raising, in hopes of keeping other players in the hand and building a bigger pot.