The minimum bet is the smallest bet a player may make when it is their turn to take action. In the same vein the minimum raise is the smallest raise a player may make when they are in a position to raise. These terms are used almost exclusively in no limits, since in a fixed limits game the values never change.

The phrase "min raise" is commonly used to refer both to a minimum bet and to a minimum raise.

In a no limits game the minimum bet is set before the hand starts. It is almost always identical to the big blind. It remains the same on all streets regardless of the size of the pot.

When the pot is large players talk about bets relative to the pot size, and tend to make half pot or greater bets. This is strictly a tactical choice however; any player may always choose to make the minimum bet or raise.