Can someone expand on this? Is my friend correct?

[Colombo]

My friend is watching me now in the stars rebuy, and he is a very good player. However, he AIMed me and said there was a problem with my game. Should i follow his strategy? He basically tells me not to be in increments of the BB

-: you only bnet in increments of the BB
-: id change that now
-: right now
-: helps for stealing
-: later on
-: varying it
-: higher when you want them to think steal
-: lower during actual steal
-: /reverse/reverse
-: depending on l evel of aggressive player/position
-: plus riasing 1800 is bad
-: raise it to 1600 even 1k raise
-: or 1668
-: evening off stack
-: do something
-: increment sof BB
-: just get you setup later on

[Shilly]

That was pretty garbled.

Raising different amounts for "real" steals and steals is a poor idea.

I usually just raise to 2.5BB when stealing in late position.

[PattyMcFatty]

Agreed.. I like triple blinds depending on stack/considerin blinds etc. Make a standard raise when stealing, or in LP with a real hand.

[Seadood228]

There are very successful players who do both, as well as successful players who miniraise. Generally those players will think that their way is the correct way, because it works for them. I think you should do whatever you are most comfortable with. Of course there are times when in game considerations dictate a deviation from your standard line.

And as far as setting yourself up for future plays, I really don't buy that in 90% of online MTTs.

[tiger7210]

I think it is completely up to the player and what they are comfortable with. I will almost always raise 3-4x BB with a monster or nothing in the earlier stages and scale that back to 2.7x when the blinds become more significant.

My belief is that if you raise big with junk and little with monsters a good player will pick up on that and nothing worse than making a big raise on a steal and having someone come over the top and now you have to call with pot odds.

I believe the table texture is also important. Watch and see what size raises are taking down the binds and what are being called and that should give you an idea on how much you need to raise.

Against a very tight player it may not take much of a raise but against a LAG you made need more.

[Simplistic]

i raise 2.5-4x BB. and if i have a monster i'll show it.