Calls vs Raises

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The Nuder

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There's lots of talk about stealing and defending blinds. Reading between the lines it also seems that people advocate raising as a normal course of action if you're playing a hand ie. don't just call.

For instance if I'm playing fairly tight, it's mid tournament and I'm in around middle position stack wise. If I have AJ unsuited pre-flop what happens when:

I'm in early position do I call or raise and by how much?
I'm in mid position and 2 people have called the BB but no raise?
I'm in mid position and 2 have called 1 has raised by 4BB
I'm in late position and 2 or 3 have called BB but no raise?
I'm in late posiiton and 2 or 3 have called with 1 raising by 4BB?
I'm the BB and 2 have called no raises?
I'm BB and 2 called 1 raised by 4BB?
I'm the button 2 called no raises?
I'm the button 2 calls 1 rauise by 4BB?

Any thoughts appreciated (ignoring knowledge of other players etc.)
 
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rumsey182

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you need to think a lot more about why you do call or raise or fold at any point because you seem so fixated on the hand try to start constructing some hands ranges and think about what a good general strategy feels like and start exploring how those ranges work from preflop on
 
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twohaha

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rumsey182 said:
you need to think a lot more about why you do call or raise or fold at any point because you seem so fixated on the hand try to start constructing some hands ranges and think about what a good general strategy feels like and start exploring how those ranges work from preflop on
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This, it's more important to know why you are calling or raising, since every situation is unique. You'll be playing against different opponents, different stack sizes, and you'll have to decide on each individual situation
 
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The Nuder

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twohaha said:
You'll be playing against different opponents, different stack sizes, and you'll have to decide on each individual situation
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This is why I said "ignoring knowledge of other players". Meaning for the purposes of this question - whilst sussing player strategies is important and will always be a factor - the question is focused more specifically on position and attacking blinds.

With that in mind I think the scenarios serve the question adequately.
 
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twohaha

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The Nuder said:
This is why I said "ignoring knowledge of other players". Meaning for the purposes of this question - whilst sussing player strategies is important and will always be a factor - the question is focused more specifically on position and attacking blinds.

With that in mind I think the scenarios serve the question adequately.
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Oops, I should read questions more carefully... Raising is usually preferred over calling since you can win the blinds outright or you can c-bet the flop and win (having the initiative).

I'm not really a tournament player, but I'd fold hands like AJo in early position, it's very likely that you'll be behind. Usually, limpers are generally weak players, so punish them for limping by raising in mid position or later. If someone has raised before you, I'd ignore if there are limpers or not in the hand, and focus on the position where the raise came from. Means that i fold to EP raise and call later positions. You might even 3-bet a button raise if there are many other limpers, just to win the pot outright and your hand is pretty strong if called.
 
Jacki Burkhart

Jacki Burkhart

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The Nuder said:
There's lots of talk about stealing and defending blinds. Reading between the lines it also seems that people advocate raising as a normal course of action if you're playing a hand ie. don't just call.

For instance if I'm playing fairly tight, it's mid tournament and I'm in around middle position stack wise. If I have AJ unsuited pre-flop what happens when:

I'm in early position do I call or raise and by how much? raise 30% of the time fold 70% never limp
I'm in mid position and 2 people have called the BB but no raise? fold 80% of the time raise 20% of the time
I'm in mid position and 2 have called 1 has raised by 4BB fold 100% of the time
I'm in late position and 2 or 3 have called BB but no raise? fold 50% squeeze/raise 30% limp along 20%
I'm in late posiiton and 2 or 3 have called with 1 raising by 4BB? fold 100%
I'm the BB and 2 have called no raises? I hate playing hands like AJ out ot position in a multi way pot, however in this instance I might raise 60% check your option 40% of the time
I'm BB and 2 called 1 raised by 4BB? fold 100%
I'm the button 2 called no raises? raise 50% fold 30% limp along 20%
I'm the button 2 calls 1 rauise by 4BB? fold 100%

Any thoughts appreciated (ignoring knowledge of other players etc.)
Click to expand...

I like this question, and I'm glad you picked a hand like AJ off which such a difficult hand to play profitably in tournaments.

We are doing this exercize devoid of player reads, so I assume the same applies to "table dynamics" i.e. is the table limpy, foldy, raisey etc.

as for the "how much to raise" question, if you are the opener go with the table standard raise that tends to result in a heads up pot or everyone folding. usually 2.5-3.5x

in the limped scenarios if you are raising I'd raise standard raise + 1BB for each limper up to a point where you probably don't need to ever raise more than like 7x or 8x the BB


my preferred actions are above in blue text, notice I'm almost never calling a raise with AJ but I will very occasionally limp along if I have good position....it should be noted that in those cases I'm looking to flop 2 pair or better, or else I'm gone.
 
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