Raising middle pairs

[MikeL05]

Sometimes I will be at a table that I'm beginning to notice is too tight, and I'll decide I need to raise the next late position hand I have. I'll raise with nearly anything, because I want to (a) disguise my big hands, and (b) see how long I can push before they push back.

In general, I like it a LOT when someone calls my preflop raise, even if I am sitting on nothing, because more often than not, they fold to my flop bet and I win more money than just the blinds. This happens a lot, and it adds up.

That said... my roommate likes to limp with anything up to TT and even JJ, because of pretty much what you said: people can't lay down their top or top two pairs. And they definitely don't see themselves being beaten by someone who doesn't even raise preflop.

I believe that my roommate's strategy is best, because we've found that much of our profit comes from the "one big hand" you have every session or two where your set is up against TPTK or top-two. It seems to outweigh all of those little pots that I pick up, and then some.

[iceman5]

[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes I will be at a table that I'm beginning to notice is too tight, and I'll decide I need to raise the next late position hand I have. I'll raise with nearly anything, because I want to (a) disguise my big hands, and (b) see how long I can push before they push back.

In general, I like it a LOT when someone calls my preflop raise, even if I am sitting on nothing, because more often than not, they fold to my flop bet and I win more money than just the blinds. This happens a lot, and it adds up.

That said... my roommate likes to limp with anything up to TT and even JJ, because of pretty much what you said: people can't lay down their top or top two pairs. And they definitely don't see themselves being beaten by someone who doesn't even raise preflop.

I believe that my roommate's strategy is best, because we've found that much of our profit comes from the "one big hand" you have every session or two where your set is up against TPTK or top-two. It seems to outweigh all of those little pots that I pick up, and then some.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that you can raise more often in late position on a tight table. I just dont want to do it with a small or middle pair that that could win me a big pot if I had limped and let KJ stay in the hand. Id rather raise with random cards.

[edge]

Oh, it's also funny to stack an AA that smoothcalls your raise preflop and then gets it all-in on a 8-high flop. Maybe full ring is different, but a lot of 6-max players will call a raise with KJ, so 66 on a KJ6 board is pretty cool. The majority of the time when you raise preflop, it won't reach a showdown, so your cards aren't always important, but a small pair gives you a chance to have a somewhat deceptive winning hand. What about 44 on an AQ4 flop against AQ? There are a bunch of awesome flops for raising small pairs.

[iceman5]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, it's also funny to stack an AA that smoothcalls your raise preflop and then gets it all-in on a 8-high flop. Maybe full ring is different, but a lot of 6-max players will call a raise with KJ, so 66 on a KJ6 board is pretty cool. The majority of the time when you raise preflop, it won't reach a showdown, so your cards aren't always important, but a small pair gives you a chance to have a somewhat deceptive winning hand. What about 44 on an AQ4 flop against AQ? There are a bunch of awesome flops for raising small pairs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Theres a very good chance Im stacking AQ with my 44 on a AQ4 flop no matter if I raised or not.

[Allinlife]

your arguement is too position-player dependent, especially short handed I think. I raise all PP if it looks like

1) buys me button
2) decent chance blinds will fold
3) my image is tight enough / opponents are passive post flop and continuation bets can expect a decent +EV when I have position.

plus, shania is cool.

I am more prone to limp pp behind a limper, or in middle/early position.

[not_da_nizzles]

[ QUOTE ]

Theres a very good chance Im stacking AQ with my 44 on a AQ4 flop no matter if I raised or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly ...

Unless the game is shorthanded the power of small PP's are in their implied odds. Get in there cheap and stack someone.

mj

[tiger_style]

or get stacked yourself