Open raise >3BBs

Saw in the last few days a couple times an open raise with 5 BBs.

Is this a new trend? Once in a 22$ and another one in a 109$ tournament from different positions. Actually didn't know how to handle or to worth it. Both times cards been concealed. Pretty questionable on my opinion. What do you think?

I have noticed at the casino where I play sometimes that some players do that kind of move with small pocket pairs, even from early position.

possle said:

Saw in the last few days a couple times an open raise with 5 BBs.

Is this a new trend? Once in a 22$ and another one in a 109$ tournament from different positions. Actually didn't know how to handle or to worth it. Both times cards been concealed. Pretty questionable on my opinion. What do you think?

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I think these are weak players. you should have punched them at sharkcope. this would give much more information for Us) most often there is no sense in such bets, unless unless there are certain notes on opponents

Until you have more information I would generally take these as weaker opening hands. Small pairs and a lot of 10s and JJ that can be tricky to play post flop. Seems like the player is kind of begging for all to fold to just pick up the blinds.

Im glad you included the tourney buy ins as it gives it some perspective. At the low levels these bets can mean the opposite (strength) and is a player that has maybe picked up that others are calling to light and want to increase the pot size with a strong holding.

Micro stakes that would usually mean very strong hands, but at $22 and especially $109 I think its probe bet to see if certain opponents will call or even think about it. Could be a slight tilt bet when 3BB opens keep getting multiple callers. Would need even more info on the table.

There are two situations, where a large open raise makes sense. The first is when opening from SB out of position against BB. To counter his positional advantage and the good pot odds created by antes, it makes sense to use a pretty large size.

The other situation is, when you have a really good hand, and there are massive calling stations behind. If they are going to call 5BB just as much as 3BB, then why not make it 5BB and get more value. This is an exploitative strategy, which mainly works against bad players, so I would typically not recommend it in mid or high stake tournaments.

But if you are playing a 1$ tournament or a freeroll then why not? Maybe you can even open jam AA for an absurd amount of blinds and still get called, because someone think, you are a bully, and he wants to be the table sheriff.

Most of the time though a large open raise makes no sense in online tournaments, and people doing it are typically not the best players. Maybe they are used to playing low stakes live cash games in their local casino, and are new to online poker. Maybe they just like to gamble and be the table captain.

Usually I will respect it quite a bit, the first time I see someone use a very large sizing, since it could be that exploitative strategy, where they raise big with their monsters. But if someone does it repeatedly, he will be well on his way to earn a “fish” tag, and I will pay close attention to try and get some reads on him.

It is clear that opening with 5BB is not normal ... but it can be interpreted in two ways ... the first is that it has a small pair ... and the second could have AKs or AQs ... so the best is always analyze the game strategy of your opponents to have a better criterion of why you make certain movements ...!

very important also to know from what position was it raised ? in early positions I would assume that someone got very strong hand

a 5BB open is the old school way to play KK (or make it look like you have KK).

In my history this type of raise has come from players with hands that are great PF, but vulnerable to certain flops, and from players who don't have a lot of faith in their post-flop play. Hands include mid-pocket-pairs all the way up to Queens, and AQ/AK.