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Openraising betsizing methods

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Openraising betsizing methods

I have been adjusting open raising sizes all my PLO live - and it still puzzles me. I'd like to hear your thoughts and arguments, but first mine:

A) Max or 3b all positions: This is considered the standard approach. I guess the unified opening bet size is easier to multi table with - but to me it seems a bit lazy.

B) 2½BB all streets: I've seen a few high stakes players use this; Skjervøy amongst others.

The upside is that you get better SPR when calling a 3bet oop, hence more implied for your flop XR. Also you get a better prize to your steals so you can steal more and get a better SPR ip when calling a 3bet from blinds. On the other hand it is cheaper for opp. to call ip vs. EP and to defend blinds and you dont get as many money in as you would like the times you want to 4 bet.

C) Exponential, say ep:3½, mp:3, co:2½, btn:2.2, sb:3½ (or limp). They come in many forms and latest I see Phil Galfond use something like 2.27 from BTN, 2.8 from CO and pot from the rest. And this was ante tables. I can find most arguments for this and it seems have the best combination of pros and cons compared to 2½bb all streets.

It also seems logical that you OR higher with tighter range and (especially) OOP.

What do you think and would you adjust for ante games? And/or even for opponents, say oppening less often but higher when fishes in the blinds?

6 Comments

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RiverOfTears 12 years, 2 months ago
I think all your arguments a good and valid. So basically I would choose a mixed strategy depending on table conditions.

Very weak tight tables allow me to play looser and steal a lot. So it would make sense to open less from most positions. If people are playing tight and nobody is 3betting you I think a small size works fine.

At more loose aggressive table I have to tighten up my range. With a tighter opening range I would open bigger and probably full pot from EP and 3bb from CO as a standard. This allows me to 4bet bigger the times I get 3bet.

From CO I would adjust depending on the player on the button. If he is tight I would open 2.5-3bbs. If he 3bets me a lot I would adjust to a more TAG strategy and tighten up my range but then open full PS when I do open.

ZenFish 12 years, 2 months ago
Good post. I'm using a mixed approach. Defaulting to 2.5 bb from BTN, using the arguments you listed for this. From CO, EP, SB I default to 3 bb, adjusting to table conditions as Morten described. Not certain about the optimality of this scheme, but there's a logic behind it and it gives me room to adjust.
RiverOfTears 12 years, 2 months ago
Also it depends a lot on stack sizes. With short stacks at the table open smaller. If everybody is deep then full ps open raises are fine
Girts Sprancis 12 years, 2 months ago
I use tactic C together with the last paragraph. That is, as soon as the 2 opps on my left have shown loose passive characteristics I skip the fine-tuning and open PS from BTN.
MB 12 years, 2 months ago
I use C also. What do you guys think about isolating smaller in later positions vs limpers who are shorter than 100BB? I can see arguments for potting and raising smaller, essentially the same arguments used for an exponential open size.
CleverNick 12 years, 2 months ago
I am 2½bb raising from btn since I don't have to protect my position and I have a wider range - otherwise I pot (and tighten my range). I am usually not worried about Limp/RR - more 3-bet from other players who knows I isolate light.

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