Originally Posted by Renton

2. I just fold preflop, or sometimes call if the raiser is loose on the button. If there were a raise and a call, then I could see the reraise potential maybe.

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

I dont think i fold hand1 but in hand 2 i do at times just push here or 3 bet hard and really ask someone that even though the board says i missed im going to put my stack o the line for an opp to call off on a pp or perhaps even ace high.

Originally Posted by mcatdog

Wow, that's tight.

Originally Posted by Renton

2. I just fold preflop, or sometimes call if the raiser is loose on the button. If there were a raise and a call, then I could see the reraise potential maybe.

Originally Posted by bigred

I usually call AK from blinds to a raise but op was weak/passive and I decided to experiment after reading this thread.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 ($197.18)
UTG+2 ($69.88)
MP1 ($118.65)
MP2 ($133.22)
MP3 ($202.85)
CO ($103.20)
Button ($73.42)
Hero ($185.52)
BB ($99)
UTG ($97.20)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, K. Hero posts a blind of $0.50.
6 folds, CO raises to $3, 1 fold, Hero (poster) raises to $10.5, 1 fold, CO calls $8.

Flop: ($23) 3, 5, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $18, CO folds.

Final Pot: $41

Originally Posted by Renton

You are usually dominated if called.

Originally Posted by Irisheyes

This is interesting, what do other people think? If I actually put my stack on the line to rep the AA, how many TAGs will be able to fold 99-QQ type hands to my flop 3-bet? Enough to make it +EV?

Originally Posted by dalecooper

I don't know if this is good, bad, or indifferent, but I am generally a lot more likely to just call with AJ/AT type hands from the blinds against a frequent button raiser, and then give a hesitation-donkbet move on the flop if it looks scattershot enough (or god forbid, if I actually pair up). They let that go quite a lot of the time and it doesn't look so much like a "move".

Originally Posted by SmackinYaUp

I prefer to either re-raise or fold AJ/AT from the blinds against a frequent button raiser. It makes it easier when you take control of the hand. If you just call and pair up, you're probably good against a loose button raiser but he still has all the advantage because you have no idea where you're at.

Originally Posted by bigred

But if it's a decent player who realizes that the passive caller is probably only betting flop OOP if he hits, could his play be an effective one? I usually like to establish aggression as well but your OOP so if op calls behind, where are you at now?

I like both plays but I'm right now trying to decide which one I like more and against what kinds of ops. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Renton

I am one of those players who doesn't like reraising. Reraising increases the stack to pot ratio, forcing your opponent to play better poker after the flop. It limits the possibilities of outplaying them after the flop because so much money is invested preflop.

Here is a basic list of the circumstances when i'll reraise. Tell me if this is a flawed way of looking at it.

1. With a premium hand* in HJ or CO after a UTG raise. My reasoning isnt for value, but for isolation. Especially if the UTG raise is weak, like only 2-3x bb. I know if I only call, I will only incourage other callers.

2. With a premium hand against a late position raise from a strong player. I don't want to play a big pot out of position against what could potentially be an implied odds hand like 87s.

3. With a premium hand against a raise and one or more calls. Once again, isolation.

4. With two cards against a loose (but good) player who is getting out of line. I am far more apt to make this play if someone called his raise.

5. With AA for value against a 2% PFR fish whose raise almost certainly means AK, QQ+.

6. With AK against a player who I think I will have fold equity against when I miss the flop.


*By premium hand, I generally mean AQs, AK, TT+.

Originally Posted by Irisheyes

Think of how much value we are laeving on the table when we fold AJ in the BB because of a raise from a button player who raises maybe 30% of his hands on the Button. Often we have the best hand and even have him dominated alot if he raises Ax type hands as I think alot of people do. Because of this I think folding is not an option.

So between calling and raising which is the better play?

If I call, yes the pot is small etc. but I find myself missing and check folding over 60% of the time. If I attempt not check folding (ie. playing back with A high, which is the best hand alot of the time) when I miss, I still find myself playing a big pot OOP with a weak hand.This was your reason for not reraising, you didn't like doing this. If I simply check fold the flop when I miss, the button raiser gets the best of it almost as much as when I fold preflop.

The only other option is to reraise. Fair enough, it does mean that I play a big pot OOP but at least this way I have the inititive in the hand and I put pressure on the other guy to make a hand. Most of the time he wont and I can take the (big) pot.

Also I think that when I reraise someone preflop and they call, alot of their range is mid-low pocket pairs. This comes back to Lukies "hypothetical question" post. Most of the time they miss on the flop and I get the best of it. When they do hit, I have a hand that is easy to get away from. They have false implied odds preflop because I am repping AA/KK, thus I am forcing a mistake from them.

Reraising preflop also has shania implications. As people see my reraising range increace, thier calling range will increace in tandem. This potentially allows my AA hands to have huge value in reraising situations because people have seen me reraise light. The fact that their calling range increaces as I reraise more also adds value to my KQ type hands.