[elysium]

hi gamblor

why raise? what is it that you want to accomplish? do you want to win the blinds? yes? are you sure? oh, you're not sure that you want to win the blinds. you have excellent position with what has a reasonable chance of being the best hand. you feel that your hand and position is worth more than just 1 1/2 bet. well, if you raise, you will win the blinds. some people would like that.

so what do you want to do? raise and build a big pot you say? only a hand of equal strength will be in there building a big pot with you. you will also encourage your opponents to play more perfectly due to pot size. is your hand strong enough for that? some people think that ATo is strong enough to build a big pot with.

the question isn't whether you should or should not raise first in with ATo or KQo from LP, the question is 'what is your action trying to accomplish?'. once you answer that question with some measure of definity, if you break down the gameplan requiring a raise reach the goal that you set out to achieve, you will find it wrought with nuisancesome quirks and pesky nuances that keep cropping up seemingly out of nowhere. the perspicacious player, however, will quickly realize his error which he discovers as he looks back at his pre-flop raise, and says rather blandly, 'should have called.'. and you know something gamblor, he's right.

before making a hold em decision, ask 'what am i trying to accomplish?'. it may go against the grain a bit gamblor, but if you know what you're trying to do, you will embark upon a more correct course of action as you set out to do it. never ask, 'am i sure that this is what i want to do?', after it's too late. by that time the answer will be self evident.