PFR sizing from regs

I've noticed on Stars that a lot of the regulars have been playing with thier pfr sizing lately. A couple that I would say are pretty solid have been like minraising (virus at 100nl) to open and another would open from min 2x to like 5x pf. Its weird. I actually tried 3x for a while but is there any benefit at all to like a minraise as a standard?

Originally Posted by allabout

I've noticed on Stars that a lot of the regulars have been playing with thier pfr sizing lately. A couple that I would say are pretty solid have been like minraising (virus at 100nl) to open and another would open from min 2x to like 5x pf. Its weird. I actually tried 3x for a while but is there any benefit at all to like a minraise as a standard?

Strategically, a standard minraise would have to accompany a loose, small-ball type of game that generated big time action on premium hands. In practice, I don't see it working.

If you open with a minraise, BB is getting 3.5 to 1 on his call and 5 to 1 if the SB takes his 7 to 3 odds and calls. There's just almost no hands in poker that shouldn't be opened under those circumstances. To invite callers so liberally preflop, you'd have to be pretty stellar postflop to make up the difference.

4x and 5x has problems if a couple players at your table are 3-betting anywhere near often enough. Also, multi-tablers give up their button and blinds too easily.

I actually started min-raising in LP as to Fnords point that multitablers use the auto-act buttons so much that 9/10 times they're auto folding. As for raising above the standard 3.5-4'ish, I actually started opening larger vs loose passive stations behind me

Originally Posted by sweetlemon69

I actually started min-raising in LP as to Fnords point that multitablers use the auto-act buttons so much that 9/10 times they're auto folding. As for raising above the standard 3.5-4'ish, I actually started opening larger vs loose passive stations behind me

Min-raising has a very different dynamic to it than 3x which usually gets people to just piss off. Also, it's sooo much harder to build a good pot after a 2x raise. Already with 3x I find myself betting closer to the size of the pot to make-up ground when I want to play for lots of money.

5x is a my pretty standard limper pwnage raise. If he's really short I'll raise more if I can get him to see a flop with less than 2x pot behind.

I'll drop down to 2.5x in certain situations. Min-raising seem a bit risky unless youve got a big edge post flop or theyre both short. The nice thing about min-raising or 2.5x raising is spastic 3-betters usually fail to adjust sensibly(and reraised pots are easy enough to build).

So Fnord your standard open is 3x?

Originally Posted by allabout

So Fnord your standard open is 3x?

Yup, click, click, next table, click, click, next table, click, click, ....

There is definitely an advantage in opening smaller on the button. I like 3x on the button, 4x every where else. Maybe 3x in the cutoff if the button is tight.

Originally Posted by Robb

If you open with a minraise, BB is getting 3.5 to 1 on his call and 5 to 1 if the SB takes his 7 to 3 odds and calls. There's just almost no hands in poker that shouldn't be opened under those circumstances. To invite callers so liberally preflop, you'd have to be pretty stellar postflop to make up the difference.

So the BB will be more inclined to play weaker hands oop? That's not a bad thing for us. The only is what fnord said. When you actually have a hand it is going to be tough to build a pot when you only make it 2x to go.