15/30 TT against a TAG

[bobbyi]

[ QUOTE ]
If he cold calls a good early player's open raise with either of these hands

[/ QUOTE ]
Reread the hand. This was not an open raise.

[Nightwish]

No, I folded, and he didn't show.

[ike]

[ QUOTE ]
But cold calling with a hand that should be folded is not mixing it up, it's -EV.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is not a meaningful distinction. Mixing it up is -EV. One way of playing any given hand has the highest EV and playing any other is -EV. When this loss of EV, that is (EV of best play) - (EV of play you make), is less than you think the future gain of altering yor image is you make the play. The cross from positive to negative EV is irrelevant.

Oh, I also don't call the two cold here. But I still thought this point was worth making. How you think about the game is alot more important that what decision you reach in one situation.

[ResidentParanoid]

I get your point. Variation that doesn't maximize the EV in the current situation lowers your overall EV. I meant you don't usually make a strongly *net negative* EV move for variation. I think we're on the same page.

To take it to the extreme, you wouldn't limp/raise with 23o UTG as a "variation" move. Maybe with 89s, if you're not giving up too much and it may have some image implications in the long run.