Why does pot size not matter in preflop decision?

Assume, in a limit game, you have 77 in LP and no raises.

Wouldn't it make more sense to see the flop if the pot is big (say, 6 small bets) and fold when it is small (say, pot size of 2 small bets)?

Is there a mathematical reason for always seeing the flop (assuming not a trash hand like J3)?

[jba]

preflop you are almost getting n-1:1 pot odds, where n is the number of preflop callers including you.

and your expected equity is almost always going to be 1/n.

for a hand like 77 against 6 limpers, you will have above the expected equity of 1/7, and since you're getting 6:1 it's a good call. likewise against 1 limper you expect to have >1/2 equity getting 1:1.

[UATrewqaz]

True 77 is a marginal hand, but you have to look at the trade offs

Against a large number of opponetns you have big implied odds, but the odds of 77 winning unimproved are very low.

Compare this to 77 vs 1-2 opponents. The pot will be significantly smaller however you have a much greater chance of winning it unimproved.

So it's a tradeoff.

[illegit]

Pot size does matter in PF decisions. If you're playing the hand strictly for value you do want many players in the pot (and thus a larger pot) when you have a hand like a mid-pair. And the smaller the pot, and fewer players the less inherent value the hand will hold, and the less playable it becomes.

[Xhad]

-Pot size does matter preflop, it's just that since it's the first round, pot size is usually a function of the number of raises and players in the pot, so we state preflop decisions in those terms and go by pot size after the flop.

-77 is a poor example for your drawing hand; it has some value unimproved in a pot that shorthanded, which is an argument for raising and hoping to buy the button. 22 or 56s would be much more appropriate for this discussion.