How often do you run plays?

How often do you run plays? I mean specific hands where you steal money with basically nothing, and it's planned from before the flop. I don't do this much... once every couple hours usually, more often if I'm feeling saucy. I have no idea what the expectation is on something like this, but it seems to work more often than not, so I'd guess positive.

This morning, A8o in late position, one off the button. The button and blinds all seem like fairly tight/passive players. It's come around to me with two limpers. Usually I'd just fold this hand but instead I raise 3X BB. Button folds, blinds fold, and the two limpers call (about what I expected). Flop comes 10 10 J... a bit dangerous, I'd prefer lower cards (especially with the pair out there), but not bad. The two limpers check to me and I bet 2/3 of the pot. They both fold. I end up netting about $5 on the hand.

Nice hand! Good read on your opponents.

I'll use this play if I sense weakness when I'm in late position. I also make sure my raises fit my "normal" style (i always switch up my raise sizes no matter what I have to keep aways from a pattern but what i mean here is not making some huge preflop raise that would raise suspiscions) so it doesn't look like a steal.

Usually when i'm on a tight table and when i'm on tilt....two reasons to quit playing.

I won't intentionally start the hand meaning to do that but will take advantage of weakness when I don't hit the flop at all...

- sed

Ditto to what sed said. I almost never set out to do this in a ring game, but if it's apparent that no one has anything from the flop then 50-75% of the time (buffered by my read on the table), I'll try to bet them out of it. Some players I've found will call with nothing up to the river and then fold when they failed to catch by then. That's always the best $$$ for my bluff, but it's also the most nerve-racking.

- Jeffrey

It's pretty rare that I set out preflop with rags, with the intention of bluffing it out. However I will use signs of weakness to attack on a dangerous pot. Get re-raised? No big deal, just cut your losses. I think you are right that most of the time it will work out and it is profitable to do this occasionally. Just don't overdue it to the point where people will pick up on it.

And, in your example, it was more of a semibluff. Sure you didn't hit anything on the flop, but you probably have the best hand anyway.

Yeah, I don't do this a whole lot. The thing I like about it though is that for a change-up play it's nicely profitable, and the steal bluff on the flop is a lot less obvious when you raised pre-flop. A lot of times if you limp in and then raise in late position, people call you on principle - they assume you're stealing, and if they made any pair or draw they'll call. But with the pre-flop raise, I've established myself as the aggressor and they have to suspect a good hand - in this example something like AJ or an overpair.

But like you say, you can't do it too much. I like to pick my spots - once every hour or two, and with good position on players I've recognized as tight. I don't like to do it from the button, it's just too obvious as a steal from there.

How often do I run "plays"?

Whenever the opportunity presents.

-'rilla