Standard Raise

Hey all first post here,
I have read a few poker books, some even written for online poker. They all pretty much say the same thing as far as coming in for a raise with a premium hand. They say to raise 3 to 5 times the size of the big blind. Although I find that many times even 5 times the BB, dosent really thin the field. Anyone else have similar results?

i generally raise 5 times the big blind with premium hands....that seems to thin the field for me

differentiate between freerolls and real money tournaments. while almost anything can happen in a freeroll, it's likely you'll experience "truer" patterns in a real money tournament.

Hey new here and thought I'd give my 2 cents on this one. When playing premium hands I like to keep everyone in the mix as long as I can. Try to build up the pot sort a speak. Love to slow play the game. I love to raise when a bully is at the table.

I sometimes try to use this tactic but the problem is those that get a lucky turn or river card, or some end up htting 3 of a kind on the flop with 3's.

They way I see it raise and if they have any kind of hand they will call or raise. The 'hopers' will fold and the bluffers will raise. Just from my very limited experience!

I find that sometimes even an all-in can't repel some of the chasers, who end up getting their flush or straight on the river. It really depends on the type of players you're betting against. I just hope that when I raise, I don't get stuck with a player who calls an all-in with 9 8 off and flops the straight.

Id have to agree with Angel on this one. Even large raises tend not to scare anyone in a freeroll but in a real money game 5-6 times the blind usually thins the field for me.

I almost ALWAYS raise 3-4x the BB +1x BB for every limper in front of me.

If you have a good hand like AA KK QQ AK you WANT callers, otherwise how do you expect to win money? Pick up the blinds every time?

If you find yourself getting called too much on raises...maybe you are raising TOO MUCH. Now, you shouldn't raise only with the 5 top hands, but you should raise a reasonable amount in case someone comes over the top and you have a hand like KQs. You need to raise to an amount where you can get away from a hand if you need to... You can't win every pot you are involved in.

I usally just raise the size of the pot

But you'd love to get called if he misses, which is most of the time.

The 3-5 times big blind is a good standard. That way, you hopefully chase out the limpers but haven't destroyed your bankroll in case of a flop with rags ... and someone, maybe the big blind, getting lucky.

The Lower the Stakes, the more callers you will get.

The reasons are

1) Most low stakes players don't know what a playable hand is

2) They don't have the patiance to wait on quality hands

3) They do not care about the money


In medium and high stakes games 3X - 4x the BB will thin the field.
At the WSOP the standard raise is 3 and Half times the BB. You will rarely see more than 1 or 2 callers.

"standard raise" 3x would be my standard preflop, pot size after, then adjust from there. You should have a standard raise that you like helps disguise your hands because sooner or later a weak player will notice whatever that raise is, make a move, and hopefully you more times than not you got a weak call or an overaggressive raise. I have come to love the tactic of making decent raises early on in a game in bad position and with questionable hands, now I am not talking about sitting down and acting like a complete idiot. 1 of 2 things happens more than not, a. you steal a few blinds, b. players think you are a little too aggressive and you will get alot more action than if you just sat down and waited for aces to come along. This only works on tighter tables. At the lowest limits no real need to use such tactics as most of the time you will get action on your power hands regardless of how you have been playing.

I've found that early on in a tournament this doesn't really impress pple especially if the blind is low say 10 out of 1500. Later in a trny it works a lot better, but early on I go ahead and bet maybe dble the pot preflop, then if i hit or feel that i still have the best hand, i might bet the pot or go all in depending on the circumstnace. This has given me pretty good sucess.

cash games not tournaments sorry should have said that.

I try and thin out the field as soon as possible. I usually raise 3-4 times BB I want a few callers but not the whole field Of course you always run the risk of getting outdrawn. If flop comes and it looks bad for me I usually run it aggressive at least thru the turn if they hang around after turn or re-raise me on flop then I back down

the phrase " it only takes a few minutes to learn,but a lifetime to master"

stands true in the game of poker. i have played in $1 no limit games with a field of more than 1000 players and raising with a quality hand seems to almost have no meaning ...alot of players would call the pope if they could..lol

now with..AA,KK,QQ,AK...and so on, i think its much better to limp in pre flop and maybe catch a player out of line

What amazes me is the number of people who call a big raise with suited cards, not connectors just suited.

3x to 5x the BB with a monster hand

"I find that many times even 5 times the BB, dosent really thin the field."
PLEASE let me know where you play!!!!

yea it depends on the types of players you're up against. with premium hands i would normall raise at least 3-4 times the big blind. the chasers will always be there and an all-in won't work all the time.. all you can do is hope that your constant raises will keep the chasers out and hope they dont catch a set or straight on the flop...

I find it is easier to look at this problem in terms of the pot rather than the blinds. 1 or 2x the pot size should get one the desired results.

3to5 in early position all-in late positoin never limp in (if playing realmoney)