Raising?!?

So two questions about raises:


1.) I have the impression that I'm supposed to fold or raise if I open a pot no matter my position or cards.. Is this correct? What are the reasons this is done? I can think of two reasons (but even more reasons to not): A.) steal pots. B.) Show extreme strength by raising in mostly early position. But isn't that countered by being out of position? In the micro tournaments that I play I will often (depending on the situation) limp with mid pockets and (AQ/AK sometimes, AJ, KQ, KJ, QJ, J10) This seems to work well because I can see a flop cheaply if no one raises after me.


2.) In a tournament the other day I saw a nifty little play. It was early on, MTT blinds 15-30. Everybody calls until the SB min raised, everybody still called. Button then reraised 300ish, only two callers. Flop came, two callers check to button which bets ~pot. Others fold, button then shows 3 5o to win the pot. I thought the button held something like Aces and got excited and reraised. Is this a common button play?

For both of these questions, how much does the low limit I play factor in making such plays? What about the stage of the tournament? It seems like #1 will work much better latter on when you can't afford to just call something like KJo.

Yes to question one. If you limp you only have one way to win vs raise which you have two ways to win. Another is to see exactly where you stand. For example...lets say you raise 2.5x utg with mid pair. All fold to cut off which reraises to ...say 4x. Well you can safely put him on a top 5 hand. So you call. But if you hit , the payoff multiplies because he cannot put you on a hand. If you limped and you bet big after flop he probably might figure you on hitting trips. But you can also go to the experts here at cardschat and look up why limping is not good. Well thats my say...anyone care to elaborate?

I would say no to question one. I would only raise if i had a big hand, but in the begging of a small tourny you could have multi limpers and have say 9h 10 h and be in a good position to limp and take down a good pot if you hit.

Very nicely done by the big blind. but in low limit you will normally get called with any type of hand. so this play is never recommend untill the final two tables or so with a good read.

I'd say no to question 1 as well. Sure, you could do a lot worse than only raising or folding, but there are definitely situations where limping is the right move. Low pocket pairs in late position after a couple callers is one example.

As for number 2, it's pretty nifty, but I don't think it's all that common. The most important thing to take from it is that it's all caused by the completely stupid play of the SB that re-opened the betting.

I live by a mantra, if you can't raise it, why play it?

and that leads me to be able to raise everytime I enter a pot, this is aggressive play even if youre tight and it works. The ONLY time I limp is not in early position but if there is a loose aggressive tricky player who has limped and I want to see a cheap flop I will limp behind him.

As for button play, what you observed was classic, well timed, abuse of the button, which is what everyone who thinks they can play poker should be able to do given the correct circumstances.

I like to mix it up, but I will usually raise. I have some really mediocre hands i will limp in with to see a cheap flop. It all depends on---oh hell I don't know. Yes--No. I'm tired, my lucks down and I'm just trying to have fun. Good luck all.

I don't think there are any rigid rules in poker. Everything is situationally dependant. What position are you in? What have the people in front of you done? Raising is generally meant to either get people to fold, or to get more money in the pot. In late position behind some limpers you want to see the flop with suited connectors but you might not want to raise.