OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Like most people, my standard open raise preflop at most points in a single-table SnG is 2.5BB. The thinking is that it's a good compromise between getting value on your good hands, having fold equity on your steals and being able to save a little the times you get raised and have to fold.
For as long as I can remember though I've been opening for more like 3.5BB in the early levels (15-30 and 20-40). My thinking there is that I'm pretty much only playing premium hands that I want to build a decent pot with in the early stages, so I might as well try to get that little bit extra in the pot preflop. Thing is, I haven't thought about whether it's the right thing to do for as long as I can remember either... until this afternoon.
Anyone got any thoughts on whether there's actually any point doing this or whether there are better strategies?
Unlike my later game play the range isn't balanced so it's not hard for an observant player to put me on a tight range. But it wouldn't widen much anyway in the early stages if I reduced the bet size, so I don't think that makes much difference.
Would I get more action on my big hands if I made it 2.5 or 3BB? I'm not sure - people who stack QJ on a Jxx board probably do so whether the opening bet is 2.5, 3 or even 4BB and good players aren't likely to start calling me much wider just because I opened to 80 rather than 100.
Is the increased value, if it actually exists, outweighed by the times I'm forced to fold, say, QQ on an AKx board? Have I picked an incredibly inane topic to ponder aloud? Interested to hear people's thoughts.
For as long as I can remember though I've been opening for more like 3.5BB in the early levels (15-30 and 20-40). My thinking there is that I'm pretty much only playing premium hands that I want to build a decent pot with in the early stages, so I might as well try to get that little bit extra in the pot preflop. Thing is, I haven't thought about whether it's the right thing to do for as long as I can remember either... until this afternoon.
Anyone got any thoughts on whether there's actually any point doing this or whether there are better strategies?
Unlike my later game play the range isn't balanced so it's not hard for an observant player to put me on a tight range. But it wouldn't widen much anyway in the early stages if I reduced the bet size, so I don't think that makes much difference.
Would I get more action on my big hands if I made it 2.5 or 3BB? I'm not sure - people who stack QJ on a Jxx board probably do so whether the opening bet is 2.5, 3 or even 4BB and good players aren't likely to start calling me much wider just because I opened to 80 rather than 100.
Is the increased value, if it actually exists, outweighed by the times I'm forced to fold, say, QQ on an AKx board? Have I picked an incredibly inane topic to ponder aloud? Interested to hear people's thoughts.