Greetings. I've fallen in love.

[Jupit3r]

Hi everyone. I'm not sure if this is the right part of the forum for introductions but I'll risk it nonethless.

I just started playing online hold'em two months ago so I'm very green. I've learned a thing or two on internet poker sites (mostly FTR). ATM I'm breaking-even in lowest possible buy-in SnGs @ UltimateBet and notice my skills building up rapidly.

A question: is min-raising ever a good idea? I'm thinking about a situation where you're pairing on the table but don't have the TP and the villain shows no aggression from position...

Btw. the Poker Rooms EV charts and the articles here on FTR about SnGs have helped me a great deal.

[donkbee]

I can't think of any time I've ever thought that a min raise was a good idea while I was playing a SnG. Generally speaking, you want to stay away ... far away ... from min raises in a tourney setting.

Don't ask me about cash games because I clearly have no clue

Welcome to FTR, glad to have you!

[Pelion]

There are a few specific occasions where minraising can be a good play but its pretty rare.

You might find a player who thinks a minraise is very scary. In that case all of your bluffs would be minimum raises since that would give you the best ratio of chance to fold / pot odds.

there are other specifics but youll get the hang of them through experience.
Usually minimum raising is the weakest of choices between calling and raising a larger amount.

[donkbee]

Anyone who replies to this post should keep in mind that he plays primarily SnGs.

[Jupit3r]

Okay...

I just started reading HOH. I'm astonished.

[biondino]

Pot building when the blinds are big and you have a monster, maybe? I'd never do it pre-flop, though I notice that when the blinds are big and it's 3 or 4 handed quite a lot of people do because they know that the other players don't want to risk a lot of chips with a raggy hand even if they're realistically getting odds to do so.

If I ever minraise it tends to be on the flop against a weak opponent who I am sure will either call then fold to a turn bet, or will re-raise me if he does have the goods. The flop minraise followed by a proper turn bet is a fairly common set/two pair line, so it can have an intimidation factor. But occasions are rare when it's clearly the best move - it's almost always better to raise properly.

If you say to yourself "I will only ever minraise when I have a VERY SPECIFIC TACTICAL REASON FOR DOING SO" then you should be okay.

[WildBobAA]

I minraised once. It was a misclick.

[donkbee]

haha

[taipan168]

Hi and welcome to FTR, glad that you delurked, it's good to have you here!

If you're playing SNGs, post some hands in the SNG forum. We don't bite, I promise!

[donkbee]

delurked

Best word ever.

I think I've posted too much in this thread, time to stop. I look like a post whore.

[TLR]

I never open minraise, I may mniraise a raise, depending on the size of the initial raise

[Anosmic]

Minbetting can be okay, but min-raising rarely is.

Obviously minbetting/raising is rarely of any value in terms of building the pot, denying odds etc etc
So the only function left is the psychological. If you can induce a mistake with minbet/raise then it's the right play.

As Pelion says, some people are so suspicious that they will fold when they should call because they think "he's getting tricky".
There's also a large number of people who will raise when they should fold because they'll despise the "weak player" who minbets.

There's usually a reason to do almost everything (c.f the famous +EV folding AA pre-flop that gets cited now and again).

[gingerwizard]

It can be ok when pushing around the short stacks towards the end of an sng AS LONG AS they have shown they fold to minbets. Generally at this point in the tournament ill make it 2.5xBB to go though as it looks scarier that minbetting.

in fact one of the best tips i ever got from this site was not to minbet. your steals and c-bets are so much more effective with better raises. At the low levels (where i play too) this is not because of pot odds its just psychological. Im guessing though that its tougher at those higher levels i am not rolled for yet.

[FlyingSaucy]

Welcome. I agree delurked is a great word, far better than joined. That's a FTR dictionary nomination, along with all you can eat baby.

Minraising, especially preflop is a donkey move. Open minbetting post flop is also a donkey move. Avoid as much as possible, and make note of the players who do it. Most of the time they will also be the ones who bust out of the Sng early.

[jyms]

First and foremost, NEVER min. raise unless you know "exactly why you are, there are reasons, but you need to learn them.

I just started reading HOH I'm astonished.

Why?? I was going to suggest this. HOH2 is a must for S&G play though.

GL