How often do you raise pre-flop? And how much?

duqnuk · Feb 2, 2023

Hello everybody!

How often do you raise pre-flop in Cash-games? Do you raise very often in good position with marginal hands?
How much do you raise when FRI (first raise in)? 3bb, 4bb? Do you like to vary your raise size?

I know it's a few questions, feel free to reply to how many you want.

mickykitch88 · Feb 2, 2023

Really depends on what cards you have and also what playing styles are around you

EnzoRS94 · Feb 2, 2023

Better to raise than to limp most of the times in my opinion

Station_Master · Feb 2, 2023

I raise to 2.4x normally and dont vary it other than from small blind (or if there are limped or posters). Some regs do and once you spot the pattern it's easy to exploit them.

I raise about 40-45% of hands from BU and SB, down to about 7% UTG, mixing it up slightly depending who is yet to act

Aballinamion · Feb 2, 2023

duqnuk said:
Hello everybody!

How often do you raise pre-flop in Cash-games? Do you raise very often in good position with marginal hands?
How much do you raise when FRI (first raise in)? 3bb, 4bb? Do you like to vary your raise size?

I know it's a few questions, feel free to reply to how many you want.

I try to raise preflop close to 99% of times. I use 2.5 BB from any position (if possible, when I’m using cellphone I use 3 BB because it’s faster).
This is because for a 6-MAX game I begin using 15% range from UTG: for my own strategy this means 7.5% of times I’m raising value hands and the other 7.5% of times I’m raising semi-bluffs, hands with a very good potential postlfop, even OOP.
From the BTN I usually open from 30% to 50% range depending on table dynamics/opponents behavior.
This is why I prefer using smaller sizings such as 2.5 BB preflop. I never limp because I believe this gives information for the table: if I limp, I would limp my weakest hands and raise the strongest and my gameplay will be easy to counter play.
Besides, I don’t limp because of the rake we have to pay to see a flop and to try to diminish the variance.
For example, I raise 22-66 and 54s, 65s, 76s, from position (CO or BTN) and utilize a sizing of 2.5 BB . SB folds and a NIT from the Big Blind 3-bets to 10 BB (4 times the size of my raising). I usually fold in situations like this.
Another example, I raise the same range and use the same sizing and now there’s a regular Tight player sitting in the Big Blind and it 3-bets to 7.5 BB (3 times the size of my raising): now; I’m more inclined to call, the price is better and I am quite sure Tight Villain will have some bluffs in his range, not like the polarizing NIT, that will show a lot of AA, AK, AQ, KK, QQ and JJ.
A long time ago when I used to play 100 NLHE my raise preflop was 2.16 BB (or 2.16 x).
I hope this could be useful to you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to post.

zipocool · Feb 2, 2023

duqnuk said:
Hello everybody!

How often do you raise pre-flop in Cash-games? Do you raise very often in good position with marginal hands?
How much do you raise when FRI (first raise in)? 3bb, 4bb? Do you like to vary your raise size?

I know it's a few questions, feel free to reply to how many you want.

our raising range will depend on the position and the strength of the hand, premium hands of course we will play through a raise almost always, the rest of the hands depending on the situation

franciscomos · Feb 2, 2023

I usually don't rise the bet at the preflop, only if I have a great pair I do it, but I prefer that my enemy rise the bet so in that case I can use the surprise factor 😂

Kinalha · Feb 2, 2023

duqnuk said:
Hello everybody!

How often do you raise pre-flop in Cash-games? Do you raise very often in good position with marginal hands?
How much do you raise when FRI (first raise in)? 3bb, 4bb? Do you like to vary your raise size?

I know it's a few questions, feel free to reply to how many you want.

Holdem i don't know exactly, i see some regs in online doing 2.3x and blind war 3x... but in omaha everytime is pot the raise pre

oleg8519 · Feb 3, 2023

в основном в кэш-игре я на префлопе каждую третью раздачу. В ММТ-турнире я нет. жду карты

Risto234 · Feb 3, 2023

Enough to make opponents feel they would want to drop off from the face of earth

duqnuk · Feb 3, 2023

Aballinamion said:
I try to raise preflop close to 99% of times. I use 2.5 BB from any position (if possible, when I’m using cellphone I use 3 BB because it’s faster).
This is because for a 6-MAX game I begin using 15% range from UTG: for my own strategy this means 7.5% of times I’m raising value hands and the other 7.5% of times I’m raising semi-bluffs, hands with a very good potential postlfop, even OOP.
From the BTN I usually open from 30% to 50% range depending on table dynamics/opponents behavior.
This is why I prefer using smaller sizings such as 2.5 BB preflop. I never limp because I believe this gives information for the table: if I limp, I would limp my weakest hands and raise the strongest and my gameplay will be easy to counter play.
Besides, I don’t limp because of the rake we have to pay to see a flop and to try to diminish the variance.
For example, I raise 22-66 and 54s, 65s, 76s, from position (CO or BTN) and utilize a sizing of 2.5 BB . SB folds and a NIT from the Big Blind 3-bets to 10 BB (4 times the size of my raising). I usually fold in situations like this.
Another example, I raise the same range and use the same sizing and now there’s a regular Tight player sitting in the Big Blind and it 3-bets to 7.5 BB (3 times the size of my raising): now; I’m more inclined to call, the price is better and I am quite sure Tight Villain will have some bluffs in his range, not like the polarizing NIT, that will show a lot of AA, AK, AQ, KK, QQ and JJ.
A long time ago when I used to play 100 NLHE my raise preflop was 2.16 BB (or 2.16 x).
I hope this could be useful to you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to post.

Interesting...

I agree with your strategy. Limping might be good when you hit a monster such as AA pre-flop in UTG or UTG+1. It gives your opponents the chance to raise and then you control the pot. The only problem would be if everyone limps aswell, in that scenario pocket Aces might be behind against 3 or 4 players post-flop. Do you agree with that strategy?

I would usually vary my pre flop raise size to 2.5bb - 3.1bb. But sometimes raising +3bb (FRI) is asking to get 3-bet action.

perrywh · Feb 3, 2023

Pot raise!

okeedokalee · Feb 3, 2023

If you raise too often you will expose your range to exploitation. Play the opponent tendencies pressure those that are too tight and allow the loose players to bet for you.
The amount you raise shouldn't vary.

duqnuk · Feb 3, 2023

okeedokalee said:
If you raise too often you will expose your range to exploitation. Play the opponent tendencies pressure those that are too tight and allow the loose players to bet for you.
The amount you raise shouldn't vary.

Nice insights, I appreciated!
When you say the amount you raise shouldn't vary you really mean we should raise the same ammount no matter what ? (when FRI)

LOKIE77 · Feb 4, 2023

Gauge the table see who is loose passive who is loose aggressive etc then exploit the leaks and raise with any two cards ie from the button if im first in and the blinds fold too often,. So play the players and the whole situation. Know how to put opponents on a hand range and use the situation and board texture to your advantage you will have a mathematical advantage if you play more hands from in position and if in the LJ/HJ/CO late positions raise to force others to fold and give you position. Hope this helps. Google how to exploit opponents weaknesses or leaks some good articles and videos on this topic.

elchonga · Feb 4, 2023

Yeah
I deal with the hands I play play them aggressively
always depending on the obvious position

Aballinamion · Feb 4, 2023

duqnuk said:
Interesting...

I agree with your strategy. Limping might be good when you hit a monster such as AA pre-flop in UTG or UTG+1. It gives your opponents the chance to raise and then you control the pot. The only problem would be if everyone limps aswell, in that scenario pocket Aces might be behind against 3 or 4 players post-flop. Do you agree with that strategy?

I would usually vary my pre flop raise size to 2.5bb - 3.1bb. But sometimes raising +3bb (FRI) is asking to get 3-bet action.

Nah, I don’t enjoy limping from any position by any circumstance. As you said, you are going to limp AA from UTG and give a free chance for an opponent holding 52 to easily beat you postflop.

Igor Popadyk · Feb 7, 2023

I understand the question about the short table, the earlier the position, the tighter the range and the higher the open raise, and vice versa

How often do you raise pre-flop? And how much?

duqnuk

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mickykitch88

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EnzoRS94

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Station_Master

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Aballinamion

Dark Lord of the Sith

zipocool

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franciscomos

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Kinalha

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oleg8519

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Risto234

põrandaalune pokkerimängija

duqnuk

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perrywh

Common sense!

okeedokalee

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duqnuk

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LOKIE77

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elchonga

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Aballinamion

Dark Lord of the Sith

Igor Popadyk

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