Preflop Raises in Limit Hold’em: Part IV

Last issue, we continued examining the following list of reasons for raising before the flop:

1. To build a pot
2. To win the blinds
3. To gain position
4. To gain control of the post-flop betting
5. To isolate an opponent
6. To create a false impression

I completed discussing reasons No. 1 and No. 2. This column continues the discussion of the list.

To gain position: Someone recently reminded me of a statement that I made at a seminar a few years ago: “No matter how important you think position is, it is much more important than that.” So, it makes sense that acting last on every round of betting after the flop has enormous advantages. It is frequently worth an extra bet with hands that might otherwise not quite be worth it to attempt to secure that last position.

Clearly, if you are on the button, you already have that position, so raises here must have some other objective. From middle or late position, though, raises may help convince the players behind you to fold, giving you the positional advantage. As a result, you may elect to raise with a somewhat lighter hand from late position than you would if you already had the button.

For example, you have the A 8 two off the button. Three players limp in front of you. If you call, as well, at least one opponent behind you, and perhaps both, will probably trail along. While this hand is not usually worth a raise, if you do raise, you may well get the cutoff and button to fold, thus giving you the last action. If you think that you have reasonable chances of success (through either tells or tendencies), this would be a logical action. This concept is popularly called “buying the button.”

To gain control of the post-flop betting: This reason to raise comes up primarily in shorthanded situations. Your objective is to win after the flop by betting rather than by having or making a hand. Of course, you should start with something, but it need not be a premium holding to fulfill this objective.

The principle is that most flops miss most players. If there are lots of players, the chances increase that someone has something he likes enough to keep playing. But if you have just one or two opponents, especially ones who play mediocre hands, they will miss the flop often enough that you will show a profit by representing strength and simply betting. That, combined with the times that you do make a hand (and probably have position), makes a raise here profitable. Remember that, like other plays discussed here, this will increase your swings substantially. If you do not have the heart or the bankroll for this, stick to a more orthodox (and slightly less profitable) game.

Two opponents limp in, and you are in the cutoff. What hand would you need to raise here? You can actually expand your range considerably if you believe the button and the blinds are likely to fold. K-10, J-10, and even 8-7 suited become potential raising hands. You understand that when making this substandard raise, you are unlikely to hold the best hand, but hope to win by virtue of controlling the post-flop betting.

For example, if your two opponents hold J-9 suited and Q-10, your bet into a flop like A-5-3 or K-5-5 will almost certainly provide you with a win.

Of course, you need to select your opponents wisely and understand that your image at the table also matters a great deal. If you are already pegged, rightly or not, as a wild, loose player, these types of raises lose their effectiveness. Opponents will start playing back with or without real hands. But if you have developed a tight image, these raises can win you significant extra money in the long run.

To isolate an opponent: One of the best situations in poker is to be heads up in position against a weak or overly aggressive player. It is up to you to recognize the potential of this situation, and then bring it about. The way to do so is by judicious preflop raising.

In the typical case, a weak player limps in and you raise, or an overly aggressive player raises and you reraise. In either event, if things go well, you get the desired result.

This situation, like others discussed here, is profitable enough to be worth stretching a point to try to achieve it. Yes, I again am telling you to possibly lower your raising standards if you believe that you can isolate the right opponent.

For example, a player you have seen raise preflop three times every orbit raises in front of you again. Clearly, either he is the luckiest player on earth or he raises with a lot of hands that others would not even play. You have Q-9 suited. Your hand is barely worth playing; in most situations, you would fold it without a thought. But maybe now is the time to three-bet, and get the rest of the field to fold. Despite the weakness of your hand, you should win more than enough of these cases to show a good return on your investment.

Or, maybe a weak player limps in late, and you have the button with A-4. You have a terrible hand, and almost never should play it for any reason. But, a raise here may be in order, for the same reasons as the previous example.

Here’s one note of warning about this play: Sometimes when you attempt to isolate, it does not work. Someone else calls your raise or even reraises. As a general rule, when this happens, tighten up a lot. Do not try to power your way through if you started with a substandard hand. If you miss and everyone checks to you, check it back. Do not optimistically hope that you can drive through two or three opponents, when at least one of them cold-called your raise or reraised.

Next issue, we will conclude this series with a look at raising to create a false impression.

Barry Tanenbaum is the author of Advanced Limit Hold’em Strategy, and collaborator on Limit Hold’em: Winning Short-Handed Strategies. Barry offers private lessons tailored to the individual student. Please see his website, www.barrytanenbaum.com, or write to him at [email protected].