Confused pre-flop

[imported_CaseClosed326]

I seem to see this situation alot in posts:

Hero is UTG with T9s hero raises.... [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I don't get this play. I was wondering if someone would inform me why this could be +EV. Is this just an all out blind steal from UTG? Everyone seems to like this play and I can't get myself to do it. Is it bad to just fold this UTG?

Thanks.

[sy_or_bust]

Dunno. I fold at most tables, and might limp occassionally. It's definitely marginal either way (I believe -EV), but I'm a loose (31/20) player and I have no interest in raising here.

[Girchuck]

That depends.
If your opponents are folding many hands to a raise, this raise is likely to buy the button. If they have a hand strong enough to 3-bet, many times T9s is not dominated by these hands, and you might take your opponents by surprise after a favorable flop. In general, this raise makes your UTG play less predictable. Usually 2+2 people don't limp UTG short-handed, so if you are going to play this hand, you raise it, otherwise, you fold ofcourse. Don't do this every time you get T9s UTG, only when you feel like it, or think it might be fun.

[imported_CaseClosed326]

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks.

[Cleveland Guy]

If I'm opening UTG - I'm raising. If I haven't had many UTG hands to play, and I'm tight this is a good one to raise.

You'll likely get folds, and your only in serious trouble vs. an overpair (you'll be 3bet), or AT or A9, maybe KT.

If my image is tight, and the table doesn't have a bunch of call stations - I'll raise this.

if my image is loose and/or there are a lot of people who will call 2 cold, or defend their blind, I'm folding.

Also - raising this here gets you more action when you get AA or KK UTG.