Cold-calling on the button vs. the SB

[IGMorton]

Should the button be more inclined or less inclined than the SB to cold-call?

If 3 players entered the pot before you, there are effectively 7.5 SB in the pot (assuming limpers complete). You hold a hand that does well multiway like:
99-22, ATs-A8s, KTs, QJs, QTs, JTs, AJo, KQo.

On the button: If you cold call (putting 9.5 SB in the pot)the BB usually completes about 1/2 of the time = .5 SB. The SB completes about 1/3 of the time = .5 SB. Thus you typically get 8.5:2 = 4.25:1 odds and the best position.

From the SB at 2/4: If you cold call (putting 9.0 SB in the pot) the BB should still complete about 1/2 of the time = .5 SB. You get get 8:1.5 = 5.33:1 and horrible position.

[baronzeus]

I raise almost all of those hands on the button (all, I think), and raise many of them in the SB.

[IGMorton]

you are raising these hands after 3 limpers? Why? In general, after 3 limpers you have no fold equity. You aren't going win with top pair with a hand like JTs. Cold-calling encourages the blinds to enter the pot so you can maximize the flush / straight / trips flops.

[baronzeus]

[ QUOTE ]
you are raising these hands after 3 limpers? Why? In general, after 3 limpers you have no fold equity. You aren't going win with top pair with a hand like JTs. Cold-calling encourages the blinds to enter the pot so you can maximize the flush / straight / trips flops.

[/ QUOTE ]

Two things. One, JTs can still win with tip pair, in a SH game. Usually limpers mean suited connectors, Ax low, or Kx low, or a pair.

Second, BB will almost always call your raise with such good odds, so you're not really knocking anyone out, except for SB, who might call anyhow. And you have more than 20% equity against 40% VPIP players and one random (button) with almost every one of those hands . When you add that to position and the fact that people on party play like morons, not raising will cost you some EV.

Just to give you an idea against limpers, assuming standard 40% vpip. :


equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 22.7504 % 21.56% 01.19% { JTs }
Hand 2: 15.9507 % 15.14% 00.81% { random }
Hand 3: 20.4216 % 19.12% 01.31% { 44+, A2s+, K2s+, Q4s+, J7s+, T7s+, 97s+, 87s, A3o+, K7o+, Q8o+, J8o+, T9o }
Hand 4: 20.4435 % 19.13% 01.31% { 44+, A2s+, K2s+, Q4s+, J7s+, T7s+, 97s+, 87s, A3o+, K7o+, Q8o+, J8o+, T9o }
Hand 5: 20.4338 % 19.13% 01.31% { 44+, A2s+, K2s+, Q4s+, J7s+, T7s+, 97s+, 87s, A3o+, K7o+, Q8o+, J8o+, T9o }


You have +equity here, and on top of that, their hands are actually worse than the ones I put in the converter, since they didn't raise.

[ghostface]

Pot Building 101