The Standard Raise

[Fonzi]

The standard raise is depicted as 3xBB plus 1BB per limper. This meaning, if there are 2 limpers up to you, that’s 2xBB for the limpers, plus the 3xBB for a total raise a 5xBB. Of course you can’t follow this exactly, as it will get readable by the other players. Thus, my standard raise is 3-5xBB plus 1BB per limper. The reasoning behind the standard is so your opponents get no read preflop on the strength of your hand, so one thing you want to avoid doing is raise 5xBB plus 1BB per limper when you have a stronger hand, and 3xBB plus 1BB per limper when you have a weaker hand.

Here are some examples:

Example one, everybody has a decent stack, there are no short stacks, and there are no major large stacks. Everybody’s stack is around 5000

Blinds 50/100
seat 1-SB 50
seat 2-BB 100
seat 3-folds
seat 4-limps
seat 5-limps
seat 6-folds
seat 7-me with AK

I want to make the standard raise here, as I have a decent hand and nobody has yet shown they have a strong hand. The BB is 100, so 3xBB is 300 and 2 limpers is another 200 (1xBB per limper) for a total raise of 500. This is effective so the blinds can’t play with junk and out flop me.

Example 2, this is the final 4 of a 10 player sit n go. Every player has 3750 in chips.

Blinds 100/200
seat 1- SB for 100
seat 2-BB for 200
seat 3-folds
seat 4-me with 99 in

Here I’m going to change it up a bit. Instead of betting 3xBB (600), I’m going to raise 5xBB (1000). This is because if I raise to 600, I am likely to get a call from AT, QJ, KQ, and other hands of that sort. By raising 1000, I can push out those hands that are a coin flip and that could potentially out flop me. Also, I didn’t raise too much, to the point where I am pot committed and required to call a re-raise where I would be dominated 95% of the time.

Of course there are exceptions to everything, and that’s no different for the rules of the standard raise. These exceptions involve position, opponents stack sizes, and your stack size.

Stay tuned for the continuation article “The Exceptions to the Standard Raise”

By ungerstu132

[ungarstu132]

if anybody has any questions or comments, id love to discuss this article.

[spr]

One problem Ive been having lately is Small pocket pairs (9s-2s), would you think, lets say in the middle of a Tournament to Raise or Limp in and see the flop for over pairs, seems I no matter what I try, If I limp the Flop is all over cards and If I bet I will get out drawn

[Fonzi]

UTG I usually limp in and try to see a cheap flop, MP it depends on the table. If I think I can get away with a limp or a raise I will.

In late position with no raisers infront on me I will raise to 4-5x the big blind and try to win the pot right there.

It's all about position with those hands and you also need to keep your table image and the the other players in mind before you act. At a loose table I will usually just fold anything below pocket 8's

[Mist]

The raise sizes you make preflop depend on a lot of different things.
To name a few, here is a small list that you should think of when raising preflop (in no specific order):

1. The action before me
2. My position
3. Strength of my hand
4. My stacksize
5. My table image
6. Opponents stacksizes
7. Opponents table images
8. Tournament structure & The payout structure (when playing tournaments)

These things are all important when planing on how much to raise, and you have to keep all these things in mind (there are probably some things I've forgotten too).

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by spr

One problem Ive been having lately is Small pocket pairs (9s-2s), would you think, lets say in the middle of a Tournament to Raise or Limp in and see the flop for over pairs, seems I no matter what I try, If I limp the Flop is all over cards and If I bet I will get out drawn

i would strongly suggest limping for sure in early to early middle position

in late middle, to late position:

1. if there were 2-3 limpers already in fron of you, i would limp
2. if there are 1-2 limpers, i would suggest raises 8xBB

please stay tuned for the next article "exceptions to the standard raise, part 1" as there are certain situations where these rules dont apply

[spr]

Ive always been a Feel/Gut poker player its just alot harder to feel people out online, In the little 20 person poker league Im in here in St louis with my brother in law and his friends I always clean up, they play OK I guess but I also know who plays tight, Loose and just plain stupid. Now the Net games which are mostly Freerolls while I try to build a Bank roll I cant feel it out, so I guess I will have to go buy a Book on poker math and try that

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by spr

Ive always been a Feel/Gut poker player its just alot harder to feel people out online, In the little 20 person poker league Im in here in St louis with my brother in law and his friends I always clean up, they play OK I guess but I also know who plays tight, Loose and just plain stupid. Now the Net games which are mostly Freerolls while I try to build a Bank roll I cant feel it out, so I guess I will have to go buy a Book on poker math and try that

if you are thinking of buying a book, and dont consider yourself a complete begginer, i would suggest, harrington on holdem 1,2 and 3....i loved all three books, but book 3 is a bit different, so skim it before you buy it

anyways good luck

[spr]

I will take a look at those for sure, last Time was at a book store I picked up a Gus Hansen book and read that for a bit, Kinda liked his thought process,any way tell me what you think of this hand

Im small stack at the table, I was ranked 54 of 68. I was already in the money of the $50 dollar freeroll on BetUS last night,

I get Delt 5c5d, Im In two of the three people ahead of me call, so I limp

One other person behind me Calls, all others Fold

Flop (5h, J, 10) Dont remember the suits but all three were Differnt

Two players ahead of me Check, So I go all in with 7.4k chips (all but one person at the table had me Doubled in chips)

The person be hind me calls, the others quickly fold and he shows suited (KdQd)

Street nothing of any use

River Comes a 9

hes wins with the striaght

How could Ive played this better?

BTW guess how much I won !!!!! 8 cents LOL I guess it will sit there till I win some more to join it

[ungarstu132]

what were the size of the blinds?

it affects how you should have played this hand.