[BoxTree]

[ QUOTE ]
raise preflop

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I'm not sure I agree here. If I raise:

a) the hand will be HU. This seems to be ideal.
b) the hand will be 3-way. I now have a larger than average pot with a mediocre-to-crappy holding. But I'm in position and I was the preflop aggressor. This situation is okay.
c) I win the blinds. This sucks. I'd rather play the hand and see if something develops that will allow me to win a hugep pot.
d) I get re-raised. This is fine. I can fold and now I don't have to play a potentially dangerous hand.

If I limp:

a) the hand will likely be 3-way. I can either choose to try to make and win a large pot or release in a small pot. Smells like Teen Spirit.
b) one of the blinds will raise. I have an easy fold.
c) the SB will fold. This is very unlikely.

All things considered, I'm not sure that a raise is better than a call. Is there really that much of a difference here?

Edit: I should also mention that if my raise gets called, I gain very little information about my opponents' hands. Any hand with which they'd call a limp, they'd likely call a small raise.