The obligatory 4xBB raise

We all know that we need to push our good hands pre-flop with the 4xBB (or so) raise. Wanted to make a comment that this only works as intended if your raises are respected as a sign of a powerful hand. I was in a tourney one day with my friend Grumbledook observing and he mentioned I was playing to many hands for my raises to be respected. Thought about this for a bit and realized he was dead right. If folks see you raise often and see that you may have played less than a stellar starting hand - you're raises won't have the intended effect.

I play a lot of stud and I was in a game last weekend where this fella raised after the initial deal nearly every hand. After a while we all realized it was just his way and it didn't signify strength. All his strategy ended up doing is costing him more money in pots he lost. For your raises to have meaning, they have to compliment your table image...

I came across almost the opposite on a sit and go yesterday Dave. I got a MASSIVE run of cards, I think i had raised pre-flop 5 or 6 times in a row when it happened. The second chip leader was getting annoyed and re-raised me all in with A-rag. Ran straight into my AA

But in general Dave, I agree, players that raise too much pre-flop are just asking to get trapped by a more skilful player.

For the majority of players, I'd certainly agree. However, at high levels, aggressive players who count on being able to outplay their opponents post-flop will raise with marginal hands because they believe their skill will sway the results in their favor often enough to make it worthwhile.