Min raise vs 3xbb

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thebigslade

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I play NL cash games, at low stakes. I play 200NL live, but online I'm playing 4-8 tables, and don't like having that much in play just yet.

So what do people prefer? I notice that in tournament play, a lot of min raising happens rather than the standard 3xbb. I've been trying this out, and it's working well. Especially with good PPs. If I have AK, AQs, 10s, JJ, and I'm sitting EP, I'll use a min raise, and try to get value.

I'm decent post flop, and I can let the hands go pretty well if I think I'm behind. But when I hit a flush, straight, set or better, there are more people to call my bets, and value bets really pay off.

What do you guys think? I suppose it could be that I'm just getting set over set a few times; is min raising actually a bad play?
 
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GWU73

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It may work, but I do not like it. I think you are giving away value when you have a good hand, and reducing the effectiveness of continuation betting. I also think that multi-tabling with the more difficult decisions you will be facing could impact your results over time.
 
TheKAAHK

TheKAAHK

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In low stakes, make your pre flop raise as much as you think the fish will call. If you have a few players on your left who will call a pfr for 3 or 4bb then folding lots to your c-bet, jack up that opening raise to a point where they stop giving action. Then dial it back a notch and smile as you take their money. I've heard this before and implemented it recently. Found lots that would call up to 6x steady at 2nl and 5nl. If you use a HUD, use a 'fold to 3-bet' stat and target those with high percentages.
 
JCgrind

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while 200NL is technicall 'low stakes' pretty much nobody here has even played it. min opens pre are fine when youre BTN at any stake bar the super micros and fine from imo 100NL+ when UTG. since youre playing at stars anyway
 
youregoodmate

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I play NL cash games, at low stakes. I play 200NL live, but online I'm playing 4-8 tables, and don't like having that much in play just yet.

So what do people prefer? I notice that in tournament play, a lot of min raising happens rather than the standard 3xbb. I've been trying this out, and it's working well. Especially with good PPs. If I have AK, AQs, 10s, JJ, and I'm sitting EP, I'll use a min raise, and try to get value.

I'm decent post flop, and I can let the hands go pretty well if I think I'm behind. But when I hit a flush, straight, set or better, there are more people to call my bets, and value bets really pay off.

What do you guys think? I suppose it could be that I'm just getting set over set a few times; is min raising actually a bad play?

Theres a contradiction right there. If people will call 2x they will probably call 3x. Tourneys are different, in cash I stick to 3x + 1 per limper, regardless of position.
 
hackmeplz

hackmeplz

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If your table has a lot of fish 2x is bad. If your table has a lot of nits it's probably fine. If your table has a lot of good players who play well postflop IP against you I'm not a fan of 2x, but there are plenty of people who do it and make it work well.
 
IntenseHeat

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I don't like the min raise because it alows weaker hands into the pot. To me it seems that once bingo player has seen his cards and decides he wants to see a flop with those suited rags, a min raise isn't going to be enough to change his mind. Simply put, the more players you allow into the pot, the more likely someone will catch a fortunate flop. Also, I think the perception of value from having more players in the pot is an illusion. Having 3 players call 2x comes out to the same amount as having 2 players call 3x. If you have more than three players calling you, then the chips you pick up from a slightly larger pot will be offset by the number of hands you have to fold because you don't know who hit what when half the table calls your min raise. Not to mention the ones you'll lose when you hit top pair and someone makes a 6 high straight with 3-6 "because it was sooooted". Also, how confident are you going to be making a c-bet with say three other players in the pot as opposed to one opponent? You want to try to put a player on a hand. How do you do that with multiple players in the pot, especially a min raised pot? If you're raising 3xBB pre, you have to figure a player is going to have a narrower calling range than if you're just min raising. So if you're raising 3x with A-Q, and the flop comes 2-5-7 rainbow, you're probably going to feel more confident in assuming your opponent also missed the flop as those cards are not likely to be in their calling range. There are just so many reasons why I personally do not believe in min raising. For me it's 3x min + 1x for each limper in front of me up to 5x. If I'm not willing to put in 3x with it, I won't play it. It's 3x - 5x for anything in my range unless of course I have As or Ks. Then I'm gonna make it 3x - 5x so as not to give away the strength of my hand. No min raises unless I'm specifically trying to set up an aggressive player.
 
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