why do people raise odd amounts?

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jangalang37

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I see this every day now. People in MTT's seem to be raising instead of 1k chips its 999, or they raise like 327 just random as hell. I really dont get it.
 
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smidjet

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since i am more of a live player than a online player i dont mind giving up 1 little play. i will raise odd amounts just slightly above a min raise just because i want to play a hand and want to make it look like i am raising but really its not much more than a limp. then depending on what action i receive i have options after the flop that i may not have with just a limp. its just another way of gathering in hand information
 
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jackaoliver

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Whenever people do this it just makes me think they are light, however I guess people can play this tactic to disguise there hand strength
 
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BomTombadil

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There are as many reasons for it as there are players. I do it sometimes because always raising even, round numbers is boring. On carbon there's the 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 pot buttons. I use those often which results in my opening for random looking amounts. Sometimes I'll do something like 997 instead of 1000 if I want a call because it looks a little smaller (which is why all prices end in .99 when you buy something at the store.) If I'm playing with the same people for a while I switch it up so it doesn't become a tell.

I get the feeling from your post that these odd numbered raises bother you. Is that true? If so why?
 
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kmbpoker

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There are as many reasons for it as there are players. I do it sometimes because always raising even, round numbers is boring. On carbon there's the 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 pot buttons. I use those often which results in my opening for random looking amounts. Sometimes I'll do something like 997 instead of 1000 if I want a call because it looks a little smaller (which is why all prices end in .99 when you buy something at the store.) If I'm playing with the same people for a while I switch it up so it doesn't become a tell.

I get the feeling from your post that these odd numbered raises bother you. Is that true? If so why?
GO DUCKS do you play live at spirit mountain , or in eugene or 7feathers?
 
mamutmamut

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I do it everytime in SNG or MMT. If I want to steal blinds it looks better than classic min raise (in high blind levels). But I also raise odd numbers for value with kings or queens. ;)
 
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jangalang37

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I get the feeling from your post that these odd numbered raises bother you. Is that true? If so why?

Yeah It bothers me, I'm not sure why I guess it's just a O.C.D. thing on uniformity or something. I just want my numbers to be even lol. I see your point. though. Appreciate the responses to get some conversation flowing.
 
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MAX101

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I read once that this person did it because he thought people would call his raise more often then if raised in round numbers ,which didn't really click with me,I usually just use the the raise the pot buttons :eating:then just wait LOL!!!
 
Akorps

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It sometimes screws up the other players minds, or at least makes them waste time thinking a little, about what the pot odds are, etc.

One problem I have is getting the software to let me bet the amount I want to bet. Like if I click "pot" to see how much that would be, sometimes I can't get back and min raise.
 
SavagePenguin

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Some people have buttons set to bet 2/3 or 3/4 the pot or whatever
In a tournament with antes, this can mean betting some odd amounts with the click of a button. IE, it's easier to bet 583 into an 875 pot than it would be to bet an even number like 550 or 600 because I can just hit the 2/3 button.

If they're not using such a macro, then they're either playing goofy/wild, or they made that bet for a specific reason. These reasons are either because they are feeling wild/playful, because they are a little scared, or because they are trying to get a call (either by making it appear cheap, or by acting weird so people call from curiosity/doubt).

Note: From my experience if someone who usually bets exactly 2/3, 3/4 etc. suddenly changes and bets an even number, it's usually a slightly bigger number than it would have been, and that is because he is trying to get more value out of his big hand.
 
skrsh76

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I believe it to just play with the other players mind and waste your time especially in online. I have stopped thinking too much about it..
 
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HUSNG Ryan

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People do it for all sorts of reasons.

The main reason that good players do this is because it takes an opponent out of their comfort zone. If 95% of your opponents continuation bet 1/4 pot, 1/3 pot, 1/2 pot or 2/3 pot sizes, and all of a sudden you are facing a 44% pot sized bet, it might throw you off a bit.

Further, once you call that bet, your turn pot size is going to be different as well, and that might extend the discomfort.

Basically, in poker, the more experience you have in a situation, the more likely it is you will make the best decision in that situation. So taking opponents out of familiar situations can really cause more mistakes long term.
 
Fuffufnick

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Betting odd amounts has many advantages. Like many have already said, it sometimes messes with some peoples' minds. I do it as a disguise of sorts, usually to make a bet look bigger or stronger than it really is (i.e. 999 makes a much more impressive looking stack stack of chips than one 1,000 chip) and sometimes to try to make a small, blocking bet look stronger... say 399 into a pot of 1175 for example
 
Randall McMurphy

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People like to bet weird amounts because they think its clever and messes with opponents minds. Any decent player ignores it. If a player min-raises 200 chips or the odd 210 chips, it does not mean anything. Same with 999 vs. 1000.
 
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bernotas22

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i find that in general it gets more respect and you end up being able to win more pots without showdown
 
WeenieSVK

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I think it was already answered, whats interesting that somebody use it when he isnt that strong and its kind of blockbet, and somebody when is really strong :) So better to not think about it too much and concentrate on other tells, reads of every single player and situation..:)
 
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tohos

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I do it to make OCD people mad.
j/k
I do it to feel special since almost everyone else bets round numbers. And you can bet some pretty numbers. I mean 12345 or 11111 is like much cooler than 10000 yah
and and your bet looks so tall if you bet these weird numbers instead of standard 2x 2.5x 3x 4x. Tall chips scare weaklings yah
 
nax

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I have my buttons set on % of the pot, so my bets have some pretty strange numbers sometimes :eek: also its rly cool to put a 1337 bet, if you know what I mean! :cool:
 
TeUnit

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really lots of reasons, sometimes the odd numbers make the bet look bigger because of more chips, or they may feel its the smallest amt that will work, or it could be to get the pot to the correct size for future bets
 
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jangalang37

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Yeah, I realized today that this guy at the final table was doing just that, raising an odd amount usually 2/3 the pot when he was looking for a call and would make an even 3x the bb when he was bluffing. Cost him 20k chips ;-)

Thanks for the responses guys.
 
Dorkus Malorkus

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I see this every day now. People in MTT's seem to be raising instead of 1k chips its 999, or they raise like 327 just random as hell. I really dont get it.

In a way you just answered your own question - it can often be used as a tool to confuse. Of course, it's probably just as likely to be someone messing about without any real rationale behind it.

There are as many reasons for it as there are players. I do it sometimes because always raising even, round numbers is boring. On carbon there's the 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 pot buttons. I use those often which results in my opening for random looking amounts. Sometimes I'll do something like 997 instead of 1000 if I want a call because it looks a little smaller (which is why all prices end in .99 when you buy something at the store.) If I'm playing with the same people for a while I switch it up so it doesn't become a tell.

You're right- but it could be argued that it actually has the opposite effect, especially live. Whereas a bet/raise of a nice round number in many cases will just be a few chips or even just one, a roughly equivalent but oddly-sized bet could be a big stack of chips (just like paying $10 can be done with a single bill, but paying exactly $9.98 needs, well, more than that). It works in retail of course because the only visual you get is the numerical amount displayed in front of you and you're right - '$9.99' can look like it's significantly less than '$10.00' to someone who's not really paying attention.
 
LeeCallaghan

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this is freeroll or how much the stakes cost?
 
KoRnholio

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It throws people off as it makes pot odds much harder to calculate by eyeballing the bet and the pot.
 
Loonbat

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I usually end my bets and raises with a 5.

I'm really not sure why anymore ... I used to have a reason
 
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cotta777

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Umm generally its an indication of a loose player, they may be trying to put the opponant off calling and this trait usually tells that this player will be more loose and adventurous.

it also could be a superstition or like a favourate number.


I sometimes do it, some players will actually get uncomfortable, t can help induce a fold depends on various dynamic of our image and the table
 
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