varying raise sizes?

Hello,

I have a question about whether I should vary the size of my raises in a NL (I play at $50) ring game. I've read that some prefer keeping it the same so that it doesn't give away the hand, while others argue that you should vary the size of your raises under certain conditions.

For those of you who vary your raise sizes, under what conditions is this done? I normally raise 6x BB for any hand that I raise with (AA-QQ, AK, JJ-late, AQ-late...etc). Also, when should you NOT raise AK? I'm having trouble with AK lately so any help is appreicated.

Thanks.

Generally keep your raise size consistent for the same table. Vary it as you move to different tables with different isolation requirement. Beyond that, there are no hard and fast rules. You can play the player with your preflop raises, just as you can play them with aggression switching.

There are always exceptions. If you're sitting with AK suited on the button and 6 people called an early position 2xBB raise before it gets to you, then you can't raise your typical 4xBB or 5xBB. You have to raise it to like 8xBB at least.

Just remember that if you mess around with your raises, then you're playing with fire. You might say "Ok this time I have AQ in mid position and I'll raise 3xBB. Next time I have KK and raise it 2xBB early." You can see where this kind of thing can screw with your desired odds to rake individual pots. Don't outplay yourself.

Yeah. I will raise 6x BB (at $25, not $50) and will only bring it down from that to 5x BB if i consistently get no callers.

It's painful when you get TT, raise 5x or 6x, get a bunch of callers and an ace on the flop and have to fold it..... then fold a pile of hands... then get AA, raise 5x and get no callers at all and win £0.30.... but that's just life!

I dont think a 4x BB raise gets any respect in low stakes rings. too many callers with random shite who catch on the flop

I like to keep my raises consistent also. If I'm playing a very tight table, I can raise 3 or 4x the BB and get a lot of folds, but on loose tables I really have to make larger preflop raises to get that guy to fold his T3 suited. From table to table I keep my preflop raises pretty much the same. Much harder to put a person on a hand when they raise a lot and its the same everytime.

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Playing at 25 NL, varying your raise sizes is not very important. Nobody studies their opponents at 25 NL anyways. Now in a tournament, SNG, or a bigger cash game it is important to keep your raises consistent. I always raise 3x BB from early to middle position and 4 x BB from MP to LP in a tournament or SNG. In a cash game I always raise 3 x BB, but more if there are limpers.

If there are limpers, it decreases your chances of having your premium hand hold up post flop. If I'm in a game where only crazy bets will make that guy with the suited 4 gap connectors fold, I feel that I need to raise at least 7 or 8x the BB to at least make him consider folding, where if I'm in a game with tighter players if you raise that large holding AA it will even make the guy holding JJ fold out and you want to keep him in the hand.

tha'ts why I vary my raise sizes from table to table, but keep it pretty consistent while at a table.