Min raising

[FuglyBaz]

How on earth do you play against the worst move in poker?

Always fold a big hand when they have nothing and call the min raises when they have AA. Can't win, any ideas?

[DaveShoelace]

Min raises mean different things with different players, some its a monster, some its A8 sooooted or pocket twos, first thing is study and try and work out which one this is and make notes when u see a hand shown down.

Reraising them to find out is usuallly a good move because you can often take down the pot (even though you are running into bullets at lot at the mo, Id say the min raise is much more a sign of weakness overall) and if they play back then you havent lost as much as if you had raised a proper bet.

Finally if you have a remotely playable hand, call with it in the big blind. Yes you are out of position but they are always giving you a good price to outdraw them and you'll make a profit long term.

Thsi cash games or MTTs btw?

[FuglyBaz]

Min raises mean different things with different players, some its a monster, some its A8 sooooted or pocket twos, first thing is study and try and work out which one this is and make notes when u see a hand shown down.

Reraising them to find out is usuallly a good move because you can often take down the pot (even though you are running into bullets at lot at the mo, Id say the min raise is much more a sign of weakness overall) and if they play back then you havent lost as much as if you had raised a proper bet.

Finally if you have a remotely playable hand, call with it in the big blind. Yes you are out of position but they are always giving you a good price to outdraw them and you'll make a profit long term.

Thsi cash games or MTTs btw?

Bazza, its mainly MTTs. Im having a break from cash just to do something different.

The times I tend to see this most is when I am shortstacked (between 10 and 15BB). I'm not seeing it as a regularity from players which is half the problem. The worst one (which sucked) was some French player. 3 rounds in a row UTG he min raised. The first two times he had a big hand. But third time is the adjustment is it not? I pick up QQ and shove all in for about 12BB more and he instacalls and flips KK. That is a freak rather than the norm, but its just so hard to play against.

I still think Min raising big hands is a stupid way to play. I bet any hand I play the same way - 3xBB 6-max and 3.5BB 9/10 as it's hard to put you on a hand then.

[AlexMartin]

[X] min raising in EP in late stages of decent mtt's works well

for some reason, ur supposed to have a decent hand, never quite understood why.

[Chompy]

Other that that, min raising is unacceptable and pointless in 99% of cases imo.

[Dewi_cool]

[X] min raising in EP in late stages of decent mtt's works well

for some reason, ur supposed to have a decent hand, never quite understood why.

+1
works v well on ft's

[Royal Flush]

I still think Min raising big hands is a stupid way to play. I bet any hand I play the same way - 3xBB 6-max and 3.5BB 9/10 as it's hard to put you on a hand then.

You can't fix other players games but you can certainly work on this.

[FuglyBaz]

I still think Min raising big hands is a stupid way to play. I bet any hand I play the same way - 3xBB 6-max and 3.5BB 9/10 as it's hard to put you on a hand then.

You can't fix other players games but you can certainly work on this.

You mean I should vary my bet sizes rather than be consistent? My problem is that i think I would fall into a routine which i dont wanna do.

If I was early position I used to range 5xBB and gradually decrease the size of the bet the closer i got to the button, but I didnt like that approach at all as it was too expensive.

[Royal Flush]

Never raise 3.5bb plz

[celtic]

Never raise 3.5bb plz

unless its pot limit

[Royal Flush]

Never raise 3.5bb plz

unless its pot limit

Never raise 3.5bb plz

[celtic]

Never raise 3.5bb plz

unless its pot limit

Never raise 3.5bb plz

is it ok then to raise 7x sb then?

[jakally]

Never raise 3.5bb plz

unless its pot limit

Never raise 3.5bb plz

Explain.........

Cash, tourney or both?

[PocketLady]

I think standardised betting is a good way to go preflop.  I tend to go 3 or 4x BB in the early stages of a tournament.  Later on when the blinds get big 2.5x BB is enough most of the time, obviously depends on the players at the table.

Cash (online anyway) I tend to go standard 3.5/4BB, or 3BB when on the button (I play 6 max).  Live is a whole different gravy.  5/6BB is pretty much standard in most cash games.  

I agree with what's been said about raising though.  Min raising often seems to be a sign of weakness, so if I want to get involved or am in the blinds etc I'm going to reraise and find out where I stand, unless it's an EP raise which I would view with more caution.

I was thinking about this the other day actually.  I mean I've always viewed min raising as being a bad thing to do.  I can't remember the last time I made a min raise, I really can't.  Even if the blinds are 200/400 and I make it 1000 to play at least I'm asking a bit of a question, but perhaps it is something that I should be using from time to time...after all, everyone else seems to do it. Am I missing out on a big secret here, or are they all just bad...I'm not sure.  

[WYSINWYG]

I play on FT so I find the best way to bet is:
establish the value of your hand
work out your opponent's range
take note of your position
flick the middle mouse wheel scroller of doom and go with whatever it comes up with