Betting the pot

Lately when I have been playing I notice a large amount of players like to make a pot sized bet pre flop(for some reason it annoys me). I usually interpret it as the player trying steal. Can this be somekind of online poker tell? Or is it just a way to disguise your hand strength or lack there of?

it could be a tell just like betting 3 times the pot....just keep watching its prolly just the bet they like to make

Now I can't speak for everyone else, but I am definitly on of the ppl that you speak of raising pot preflop. I have to say that yes sometimes I am attempting to steal; although as part of my playing style I also use this technique to antiginuise someone else into pushing. It really depends on who is still in the hand, how they play, my position, and stack size. I do use this method of raising preflop quite a bit. I believe it puts forth a strong hand strength without having to triple the bb which when you are close to being a shortstack or in the early portions of a tourney or even playing out of position is a great way of not overbetting your stack into bankruptcy. What I have learned is that playing inconsitently works fine for me(thats just me). I think it kind of goes hand in hand with my method of betting someones exact stack amount when bluffing them out of a hand. =]. Please feel free to explain why you would think this is not a good idea as I am always willing to learn.

I have to make a small correction to the statement I made above. "my posistion" really should be "position" as everyone still in the hand has to be taken into consideration.

I don't think it is not a good idea, just wanted to know if there was more to it than I was thinking at the time, it is kinda frustrating when someone bets the pot all the time because it is hard to put them on a hand. I totally agree with you on this being a good way to not "over bet your stack into bankruptcy."
Makes a lot more sense now. Thanks a lot.

I concur with Dresturn2, just keep watching what they turn over with and adjust your game. take notes. Good luck

Personally I like it when someone plays me like that. REALLY aggressive. I just sit back wait for the monster and put'em out. Those are usually the people I target in tourneys.

Although there is a difference from someone doubling or tripling the Big blind when they play and someone who is raising every hand.

i do it...why? it means i was gonna raise anyway, i'm playing 2 or 3 other games, and i'm too lazy to do the math...there's a pot sized button right there for me to click on before i time out

If i do a pot size raise, your best bet is to fold. 1/2 pot size, i am after someone to make a call.
But then again i may do the odd bets.
How ever i have nailed a lot of bluffs, on a pot size bet, or raise .
also some do it, just to annoy you..

When I use the pot sized bet from early position it generally means I have AA KK QQ JJ TT or AK. I like to bet the pot with these hands so they dont recognize the difference between my AA or JJ. If they want to call me from postion to steal from my JJ when an overcard hits it gets alot tougher for them when I could be holding bullets (if it was 3BB it would be the same thing, but I want the pot big for those hands). I've been doing it lately but I'm sure I will change my strategy again. The pot bet has been working though because people normally bet smaller with AA KK hoping for action. I just bet hard and hope that an aggressive player wants to push me off my hand.

Glad to know the pot bet irritates you-that helps.

I have been doing the same as above lately with amazing results! Not always, but most of the time! I usually flush someone out that may be holding an 1 ace & say a 2 or 3...generally they fold to my actions.

pre flop I think it is ok to bet the size of the pot. say u get 2 limpers. If you bet 3x the BB they are both might call, If you double whats in the pot then u isolate to 1 or win it there. I like a 4x bb bet pre if 1 person limps =)