Minraising the New Standard Open?

Grinderella

Grinderella

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Hi all,

I'm a microstakes cash game grinder. I have noticed recently an increase in the use of 'Minraising' as a standard opening bet. Particularly from Regs in EP with PFR ranges between 1 and 5%. Last year and before that minraises were used with spec hands and draws to get cheap flops on passive tables.

But more recently these min bets are being used to induce 3bets which are then insta-4betted or flatted OOP. The (AA AK KK) limp re-raisers of old seem to have now switched to the min-raise 4bet line or just flatting before jamming the flop. This isn't just isolated pre-flop. I've been seeing a lot more min-raising with nutted ranges on the flop and turn. Regs are starting to include minraises in their bluffing tactics. They know that the image of the min-raise says "I have a hand which crushes yours and I am giving you excellent calling odds because I know that I am beating you. I want you to call". This is a big shift from the classic "Shut them out with a shove or a pot sized bet" mentality, that used to be the standard a few years ago.

Has anyone noticed this shift too? It's becoming so prevalent that I can now read monsters just by observing minraise frequency. What are your thoughts on this strategy? I think it's very exploitable for good observant regs.
 
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AjsmenX

AjsmenX

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I am used to min raise only from UTG+1 or early positions.That makes sense for me ...if u limp AA in middle or late positions that can be dangerous
 
IPlay

IPlay

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Sounds like you are playing against a bunch of bad nits. Only time I see a good reg min raise is on the button and even still it is usually 2.2-2.5x
 
sanych

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I do not use mini-raises, I prefer 3bb and from positions CO or BU 2.5bb, but more often still 3.
 
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jefrock21

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I usually 3 bet...but minimum raise to change pace or chase off small blind to isolate the big blind.
 
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braveslice

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Be careful not to over value min raises. Most of them are still weak hands.
 
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davidhoyle107

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It depends on how often they mini raise. Is it a large percent of their vpip, or a small amount? If the latter, they are inducing 4 bets. If large, it's a weak hand that needs a occasional punishing.
 
vinnie

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I forget which book covered this, but one of the books I've read had a very interesting take on bet sizing. They advocated opening from early positions with your largest bet size, say 3.5xbb. And, from the button with your smallest bet size, say 2xbb. With progressively decreasing bet sizes between those.

The logic is that your early position ranges are the most value heavy, and also the most narrowly defined. This means you benefit in two ways from the larger size. You build bigger pots when your hand range is strong. You also discourage people from calling too wide in position, where they can play easily against your narrow range. When you open on the button, you have the widest range and guaranteed position. The smallest raise size gives you some fold equity, but it also benefits you because you have created a high SPR situation with you in position. That makes it easier for you to steal post-flop. When you get 3-bet, you lose less with the hands you have to fold. Your range is also weaker but less clearly defined. That means it needs less protection that would be provided by the big bets.

There is similar logic for the progressively smaller bets as you approach the button. As your fold equity increases and your range gets wider, weaker, and harder to define, you don't need to raise as much to protect it.
 
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davidhoyle107

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I forget which book covered this, but one of the books I've read had a very interesting take on bet sizing. They advocated opening from early positions with your largest bet size, say 3.5xbb. And, from the button with your smallest bet size, say 2xbb. With progressively decreasing bet sizes between those.

The logic is that your early position ranges are the most value heavy, and also the most narrowly defined. This means you benefit in two ways from the larger size. You build bigger pots when your hand range is strong. You also discourage people from calling too wide in position, where they can play easily against your narrow range. When you open on the button, you have the widest range and guaranteed position. The smallest raise size gives you some fold equity, but it also benefits you because you have created a high SPR situation with you in position. That makes it easier for you to steal post-flop. When you get 3-bet, you lose less with the hands you have to fold. Your range is also weaker but less clearly defined. That means it needs less protection that would be provided by the big bets.

There is similar logic for the progressively smaller bets as you approach the button. As your fold equity increases and your range gets wider, weaker, and harder to define, you don't need to raise as much to protect it.

I read that too. It makes really good sense. Most of the cards I'd play for value are played early. By betting based off position, one may also elude their hand strength, or deceive the opponent into misreading a hand. The downside is position becomes less important. When you do hit a biggie in position, you can't extract value as well without signaling strength.
 
Grinderella

Grinderella

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Great post Vinnie. I have always been a 3bb all positions player but this is worth some consideration.

G
 
Grinderella

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I read that too. It makes really good sense. Most of the cards I'd play for value are played early. By betting based off position, one may also elude their hand strength, or deceive the opponent into misreading a hand. The downside is position becomes less important. When you do hit a biggie in position, you can't extract value as well without signaling strength.



Very good point.
 
dealio96

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I wouldn't say it's the new standard pf raise, but I have seen quite a few players now opening light with min raising(much more than recent years) Usually includes LAGs and aggressive players- I rarely catch a nit min raising unless he's trying to induce a 3bet from the bb out of the sb or something.
 
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Sidetracked

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Min raise from UTG seems bad. It's become standard from the button, though.
 
Grinderella

Grinderella

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Yeah I think it's because of the new initiative of raising more with your monsters OOP, Standard raise in the CO and MR on the BTN to reduce F3Betting losses
 
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