What's the point to minimum raising?

What is the point of minimum raising? I know poker is a game of situations, but there are very few times I think raising the minimum pre-flop is a good play. One exception I can think of is heads up when the big blind is a large chunk of your opponent's chips.

Can anyone point out a few other scenarios where min-raising may be the right play?

sometimes if i have AA KK etc. and only one other person left to call ill either min raise or not raise at all depending on how they has been playing through out the tourny but other than that i dont understand it either

There is a very important use of minraising in both tournament and ring play. Although some might consider it 'colluding', the minraise, when used three times within 10 minutes, is a signal to players that the minraiser is a complete donkey. If you notice someone minraising three times within 10 minutes, know that they are a donkey but keep quiet, because it is a secret signal. You don't want to get banned for colluding.

If you are a complete donkey, you may use this play to secretly tell other players that you are a total donk. It is considered polite to use this to let others know you are a fish because it makes it easier for the experienced players to relieve you of your chips more quickly, thus reducing the rake the casino takes as your chips are distributed among your opponents.

Casinos like taking rake, so they may ban you if you are caught using the "3 minraise in 10 minutes" collusion tactic. So stay quiet while applying this and you will be able to let your chips slide away from you peacefully and without conflict.

I find that when I'm playing a LAG player, a min raise to see if he/she has hit that flush, can be quite effective.

If they did, they will almost always push.

This isn't so effective against donks because they seem to be in love with the slow play. But, that can be a tell as well.

Yeah, there are times when a min raise will get you information. Just not against anybody who knows what they're seeing.


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I like to use it on the turn and river from time to time if I have the nuts and it's the only way I think I can get extra value from my hand. Other than that, I think it is pointless as you said

Agreed. I think its is funny, early in the tourney when its folds around and the small blind does this, like I'm suppose to fold.

Lol, "Post of the Week", imo.

Well, I know there is one 2+2er who is a min raiser and is one of the top online cash game player out there. Still not sure if there's any merit in it?

It wasn't mentioned, but I sometimes mini-raise in order to 'set the pace' of the table bet i.e. for not to get a bigger bet.

Normally, when one mini-raises, it is true, (almost) no one will be pushed out of the pot and most will call.
Most of the times I get either folds or calls to a mini-raise which means I can see the flop with a medium hand. Had I not raised, there would've been more chances for me not seeing the flop as I would fold against a rather high bet...

LOL.

Alternatively, it's also a good method to make people believe you're a donk while eying their chip stack and watching them re-raise you when you have the nuts.

I will minimum raise when I have the absolute nuts but do not want to expose it for fear of giving my hand away.

example

I have 44 and the board comes down 44A

If a player bets into the pot with an Ace then I will miinumum raise him. There is little doubt hes going to call. If however I whack in a huge raise then he is more likely to become suspicious and fold his hand.

Minimum raises are great for extracting a little extra out of people when a large raise is likely to give your hand strength away and force people off the pot.

Yes, Min raising can also be used for pot size control. If your opponent is chasing and usually bets big when checked to. A min raise first can garner a call (rather than a big bet) and minimize the money spent for another card.

Pot control is a big part of the game nowadays. There's a new style of play (I think they call it low balling) which has grown out of the need to control the pot size, as a way to battle the big betting kids.


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Yes I sometimes use a min raise to see the flop cheap, early-middle position.
(at a fairly weak table early in a tourny)
It will often cause the rest of the table to call, when otherwise one of them prob would have raised 3BB.