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Starvingwriter · Flush Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 144

I'm curious about this. I've read my share of poker advice and strategy columns, and it seems a lot of people advocate making a raise as low as 2x the big blind in early position.

It just doesn't seem "right" to me when you think about the pot odds. (It makes sense late in a tournament when the blinds are huge, but early on?) First off, assuming everyone else folds, the BB can call with almost any two cards, getting 3.5:1 on his money for the call. If anyone else calls (likely given the small raise) people are priced in and calling all over the place. Even with AK, you don't really want five callers.

The only hands I'm going to be comfortable making that kind of a raise is holding AA or KK. The only way a raise that size is going to push anyone out is if someone re-raises behind you, and then you could be in for a headache unless you're looking down at the nuts.

Your thoughts?

Riddim · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:10 am Post subject:

I'm not a big fan of it. I think it works better on the button where there's only two people left to act, you'll always have position and your range is wider. In that case it lets you steal cheaply if your opponents don't adjust and call more 3-bets if they do. It also lets you play pots with a lot of money left behind in position with a wide range vs. another wide range, which is nice.

renegades8 · Forum Fish Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 3030

I'm not crazy about doing it in cash games where you're usually atleast 100BB deep (online) or even a few hundred BB deep (live). I don't mind it in tournaments when the blinds get big-ish and you don't want to be as commited to hands and you can keep the pot smaller, and your raises get a lot more respect when it's a larger portion of your stacks.

DrAndrian · Four of a Kind Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 301

Make a real raise instead of a minimum raise. You don't want the big blind to get the odds to call with trash.

dcdoorknob · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 2:41 am Post subject:

As long as we're talking about cash games (or low blind tourneys), I definitely agree. However, turbo SNGs frequently offer some great spots for the min-raise.

StevieWard · Message Board Junkie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 1131

bdbranch · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:50 am Post subject:

1 point I disagree is with KK & AA. Generally a tiny raise with these is just asking for them to be beaten with garbage. Make them pay a proper price for the chance of beating you.
Ps, you said about 'a lot of people advocate making a raise as low as 2x'. Alot of people say alot of things. A look through the various posts will show this.

cardfish2 · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

A min raise in EP earns you an automatic "donk" in my player notes. As mentioned above, min raise with AA or KK is the worst time to do it.

I'm not a fan of it but some people do the min raise with a hand like 78 suited which plays well in pots with a lot of callers. The problem is that you leave yourself open to a bunch of people behind you who can raise you big and make you fold without seeing a flop.

volkert314 · High Card Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 2

I hate when people do it online in cash games and most of the time I'll donk off and try and beat them with ATC. I've seen some people do it with Aces(twice last night) and I know they're probably wanting action, but it's a horrible play cause you really only want one or two players in a pot at that point.

Just don't raise the min. cause it's just going to burn you.

renegades8 · Forum Fish Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 3030

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