Raising

[Maverick]

Im currently playing micro no-limit on stars to build up my bankroll. Hoping to eventually move upto 0.05-0.10 when my roll can support it.

I have a question on raising which, I hope some of you can shed their thoughts on in respect to 10handed ring games.

I have become quite mechanical with my raises, its always the same preflop/postflop at 0.10 (2.5BB)? on 0.01-0.02 tables.

I'll raise 0.10 with any hand I consider worth raising to assist in making it difficult for my more observant opponents to get a good read on me. I find it also generates action when I raise 0.10 with the absolute nuts and people try to steal.

Anyway do you consider this to be a viable strategy to NL micros? Will it work on 0.05-0.10 full ring?

If you saw a player who had a standard raise regardless of the cards he had, would you call him down? Raise for info? ect...

Thoughts please, im always looking to improve my game.

[sinky]

I have become quite mechanical with my raises, its always the same preflop/postflop at 0.10 (2.5BB)? on 0.01-0.02 tables.

A standard raise regardless of the cards you are holding is a good strategy.

However you do need to vary the amount you are raising based on position and the number of limpers in front of you. The purpose of your raise is to limit the field to 1 or 2 callers. If you are UTG then a small raise may work, but if you are on the button with 6 limpers in front of you then a small raise will most likely get called by 4 or 5 opponents.

You also must consider the nature of the table. At a loose table you will need to raise a little more to limit the field.

[Maverick]

Hey sinky,

thanks for the response. Yea its true that different circumstances call for varying raise amounts.

I suppose pot-odds should normally govern your raise size (ruining their odds) It's just difficult at penny limits I suppose because some people will call anything even though their pot-odds are quite poor, due to the small actual cost of each bet.

Do people start to respect pot odds more at the 0.05-0.10 & 0.10-0.25 NL levels? Thanks again

[lonnie]

It's just difficult at penny limits I suppose because some people will call anything even though their pot-odds are quite poor, due to the small actual cost of each bet.

This is good for you, assuming you are raising with a better made hand.

[Staresy]

It's just difficult at penny limits I suppose because some people will call anything even though their pot-odds are quite poor, due to the small actual cost of each bet.

this is true, but you have to consider the long term results here. Provided you make the right decisions and play the hands properly, you WILL get rewarded. Sure, people may suck out to you ten times running, but in the overall scheme of things, these things average themselves out. The key is not letting bad beats influence your future decisions.

Do not play scared because your Aces have been cracked three times running.

Do not succumb to the Tilt Monster.

[Maverick]

oh guys guys dont get me wrong, if I hit a good hand, they're putting in their whole stack before I stop betting. I realise the 'long term' and smile when I get sucked out now days and leave a little 'note' on that player.

What i'm referring to is marginal hands or TP (top kicker, mid kicker) 'add other average hands here' in which your raise does destroy any drawing odds and yet, people still draw due to the penny stakes.


I'll leave the little nuances out of this discussion, my question was basically asking on average (lets say playing position, mostly post-flop play) how would you act to someone who always raised a set amount AND was that a viable strategy at micro-low limits.

(I do realise sometimes your raise size will be to eliminate limpers odds and so on and so forth) cheers

[Greedo017]

always raising the same amout preflop is a pretty good idea, but don't get all too caught up in strategy and trying to trick your opponents really. If you have aces, and everyone limped in before you, raise it up huge. people generally are dumb at low limits, don't try to be overly tricky with them, try to get as much money in as you can, and protect your good hands by making them pay dearly to draw, overbetting the pot is fine if they're gonna call no matter what.

[studboyjoe]

Standard raises are good for the reasons you mentioned, but in loose games where "standard raises" see 3 or 4 callers, I would bet hands that like a heads-up confrontation very high if there are many limpers.

[Admerylous]

Do people start to respect pot odds more at the 0.05-0.10 & 0.10-0.25 NL levels? Thanks again

Not really.