cardcounter0
Well-Known Member
You raise preflop:
1) For value
2) To improve your position
3) To limit the field
4) To gain control of the hand
5) To win it right there
6) To cut down your opponent's implied odds
7) To isolate donkeys
Now in the typical passive low limit game, #1 is the supreme reason for raising, and #4 also applies. #6 and #7 to a smaller extent, but don't forget about #1.
#2, #3, #5 -- forget about it.
Let's look at a hand I recently played at low limits (which I beat for the mathematically impossible 8bb/hour, instead of the "standard" 2bbs.)
I'm also going to try to show how you make money by other players making mistakes.
Notice after UTG raises and I re-raise, at least 5 went to flop -- and you going to limp in with good hands, why? At what other street are you going to get over 5 to 1? If they are calling 3-cold, they will call a single raise just as readily. Most people who try to beat low stakes - don't raise preflop enough. Raise with good hands, give the other players a chance to make the mistake of calling raises with bad hands. If you don't raise they actually might not be making a mistake by calling with so many already in.
Flop came Q high, with two hearts.
Notice he did not cap the betting preflop. Even if he didn't have AA or KK (because even a donkey would cap with that) what is good enough to raise with UTG but not good enough to cap with when you already have 7 callers? Mistake.
UTG bet into me, I raised. All fold except UTG who calls.
Hey, there are like 15+ SBs in the pot already. Those 5 callers all fold? With 2 hearts on the board, you almost have odds to chase runner-runner flush even if you have a single heart in your hand. If you catch any part of this flop, you have odds to continue. All fold? Mistake, mistake, mistake. UTG calls? Not going to try to represent QQ? No play to try to get a free turn card or check down on the river? If you really had AA, KK, QQ wouldn't you be trying to pull a check/raise? Bet, and just call the re-raise? Mistake. My hand is good, you are beat.
UTG check/called all the way, shows QJo and my AA (or AQ) is good.
About the only thing that wasn't a mistake, although why even call on the river? At what point do you realize your hand hasn't improved and you are beat?
1) For value
2) To improve your position
3) To limit the field
4) To gain control of the hand
5) To win it right there
6) To cut down your opponent's implied odds
7) To isolate donkeys
Now in the typical passive low limit game, #1 is the supreme reason for raising, and #4 also applies. #6 and #7 to a smaller extent, but don't forget about #1.
#2, #3, #5 -- forget about it.
Let's look at a hand I recently played at low limits (which I beat for the mathematically impossible 8bb/hour, instead of the "standard" 2bbs.)
I'm also going to try to show how you make money by other players making mistakes.
Hand Analysis: For fun let's say I have AQ (another hand you raise for value, not to limit the field).
Notice after UTG raises and I re-raise, at least 5 went to flop -- and you going to limp in with good hands, why? At what other street are you going to get over 5 to 1? If they are calling 3-cold, they will call a single raise just as readily. Most people who try to beat low stakes - don't raise preflop enough. Raise with good hands, give the other players a chance to make the mistake of calling raises with bad hands. If you don't raise they actually might not be making a mistake by calling with so many already in.
Flop came Q high, with two hearts.
Notice he did not cap the betting preflop. Even if he didn't have AA or KK (because even a donkey would cap with that) what is good enough to raise with UTG but not good enough to cap with when you already have 7 callers? Mistake.
UTG bet into me, I raised. All fold except UTG who calls.
Hey, there are like 15+ SBs in the pot already. Those 5 callers all fold? With 2 hearts on the board, you almost have odds to chase runner-runner flush even if you have a single heart in your hand. If you catch any part of this flop, you have odds to continue. All fold? Mistake, mistake, mistake. UTG calls? Not going to try to represent QQ? No play to try to get a free turn card or check down on the river? If you really had AA, KK, QQ wouldn't you be trying to pull a check/raise? Bet, and just call the re-raise? Mistake. My hand is good, you are beat.
UTG check/called all the way, shows QJo and my AA (or AQ) is good.
About the only thing that wasn't a mistake, although why even call on the river? At what point do you realize your hand hasn't improved and you are beat?