Standard Pre-flop Raise Amount?

[Hoop Addict 0]

OK, I've only recently started playing cash games online, after building a roll on tournament winnings.Previously, any time I've played cash, I seem to donk off my $$ way too easily, so I'm trying hard to stay focused, find a "system" that works for me & make it profitable.One thing I've found really difficult, is to find a standard pre-flop raise amount. In tournaments, I've found that 3X BB is effective until you get to around the money bubble, at which time I switch to 2.5XBB. I will always raise the same amounts during the tournaments (save for the one-off switch), no matter what hand I'm playing.I've found that 3XBB raises in the low stakes games I'm playing get zero respect & are virtually called as though you've limped in. I've seen others routinely raise 6-10XBB, which surely has to be sub-optimal?I'm playing 25c/50c at the moment. I initially played $1/$2 but found I was just spewing, so have dropped down & I'm trying to make every level I play at profitable before moving up.What is everyone else's standard raise? I am thinking on settling for 4XBB. Also, do you vary your pre-flop raises, or keep them the same every time (which IMO is optimal in tournament play, but want thoughts on cash games?).Also, is there a general concensus on strength when a "normal raiser" suddenly way over-raises? EG, a guy who would normal open for 3-4XBB suddenly open raises for something ridiculous like 10XBB. I had this situation last night, and folded my JJ, just because I was confused.

[Pot Odds RAC 23]

It isn't that complicated "Standard" is relative. Pay attention to the table. It isn't for "us" to say, "standard" is Standard, by definition is defined by a given table, site, casino...

[Roberts2003 0]

just hit bet pot preflop whenever you want to raise. very easy.

[HijackedAffairs 0]

just hit bet pot preflop whenever you want to raise. very easy.

I think it's much better to have an understanding of what you are raising to and why. My standard is 4x the big blind adding 1x for every limper. I think this amount works well for the lower limits I play as people will respect 4x.

[CobaltBlue 662]

just hit bet pot preflop whenever you want to raise. very easy.

This works, but it's not optimal.As for the "right" amount, my PF raises are actually more standard in cash play than tournament play (where I usually vary my open-raises by position). In most cash games that I play these days, I open for slightly more than 3x. In a 2/3 game, I'll go to $10. In a 3/6 game, I'll go to $20. 4x isn't "bad" for the lower limits...but it'll result in a slightly more bloated pot on the flop...so your c-bets will have to be slightly larger. Just take that into account.Biggest thing (which you already seem to be aware of)...don't vary your pre-flop bets by your hand strength.Finally, there are going to be certain kinds of opponents where you'll want to up your pre-flop raises...mostly because they're calling stations pre-flop.

[David_Nicoson 1]

I think it's much better to have an understanding of what you are raising to and why. My standard is 4x the big blind adding 1x for every limper. I think this amount works well for the lower limits I play as people will respect 4x.

So, bet the pot then?

[tskillz187 0]

In live game I open anywhere from 3x-10x depending on the players and texture of the game. Just Serious.

[HijackedAffairs 0]

So, bet the pot then?

In my situation, yes. But I think it's good to judge each situation independently, that's what I'm saying.

[Moneyball16 0]

I think it's much better to have an understanding of what you are raising to and why. My standard is 4x the big blind adding 1x for every limper. I think this amount works well for the lower limits I play as people will respect 4x.

I do something similar. I raise 3.5x adding 1x for every limper out of the blinds and raise 4x adding 1x for every limper in the blinds or when Im out of position on the limpers. I will also increase my pfr like Cobalt if the players are stations. Im still newish to NL and refining my strategy though. Like others have said it is very important to not give any extra information based on the strength of the hand you are raising. It should be the same raise whether you have AA, AK, JJ, 22, or 76s.

[Moneyball16 0]

tournament play (where I usually vary my open-raises by position)

Can you go into more detail about this? Why is this stategy different from your cash game one? In which positions would you increase your standard raise and which position would you decrease it?

[CobaltBlue 662]

Can you go into more detail about this? Why is this stategy different from your cash game one? In which positions would you increase your standard raise and which position would you decrease it?

Well, I think it's likely a function of the fact that when I play NL cash, it's usually short-handed...so most of the non-blind positions play pretty similarly. Most of the time in tournaments though, I'm playing full tables.In UTG or UTG+1 (full), I'll very frequently open for 2.5x. It typically accomplishes the same thing as a 3x raise from those positions and saves me money if people want to come over the top. Additionally, if people do call, I'm not building as big of a pot from OOP. I'm not sure that it's right for everyone...but as I've become more comfortable/competent post-flop, I think bringing the sizes of pre-flop raises down is natural. On the other hand, raising something like 3.5x from CO or the button puts more pressure on the blinds if they want to defend and builds you a bigger pot from in position if you're called. I experimented with the larger raises from late for a while, but I don't really use them too frequently these days. So under general circumstances, I open for 2.5x from EP and 3x from all other positions in full tournaments. As I get more comfortable, I've started throwing MP1 into the 2.5x range...and I could see that trend progressing towards the middle positions.

[linkwood 0]

Also, is there a general concensus on strength when a "normal raiser" suddenly way over-raises? EG, a guy who would normal open for 3-4XBB suddenly open raises for something ridiculous like 10XBB. I had this situation last night, and folded my JJ, just because I was confused.

When people do this, more so online than live, but it can be both, they have a strong, but vulnerable hand. Usually when someone raises big like that they have a PP, usually 1010 - QQ, although sometimes lower, with some opponents or AQ/AK. They don't like making decisions after the flop with these hands so they raise huge in order to limit those. Its pretty stupid and if you're deep enough you can usually pick these idiots off. Its sort of that "I don't want to waste a pair" mentality. Be careful though because sometimes tricky opponents will do this with AA and KK in order to look weak with a big bet, so you really have to know your opponent before you commit a lot of chips in these situations. I would say though that 90% of the time they have a reasonably strong, but vulnerable hand.