Joe The Pro

Min Raising is different than Min bet

As much as I hate the min bet, I do believe that a min raise in the right situation is very good. However, I do believe that the min-raise preflop is horrible.

On the flop, if you are out of position, it is very hard to build a pot without giving away your hand if you are not the preflop raiser.

If someone who has position on your raises preflop and you call, a large bet from you rouses suspicion and a large check raise does also. A large bet could make the other person fold. If they call, they will likely fold on the turn. The large check raise really defines your hand.

I prefer the min check raise with lock hands. Most players will c-bet and must call a min check raise with the odds they seem to be getting. After that many seem to not mind as much calling large raises thinking that your min-raise was a semi bluff and the turn and river bets are continuation bluffs.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (6 handed)

saw flop|saw showdown

CO ($102.88)
Button ($100)
JoeThePro ($97)
BB ($182.89)
UTG ($109.01)
MP ($20.55)

Preflop: JoeThePro is SB with 8d, 8s.

2 folds, CO raises to $4, 1 fold, JoeThePro calls $3.50, 1 fold.


Flop: ($9) Jh, 8c, 9s (2 players)

JoeThePro checks, CO bets $6, JoeThePro raises to $12, CO calls $6.

Straight heavy board. A min check raise is okay only if you're willing to dump the hand if the turn is bad and Villian's bet sizes are too big.

Turn: ($33) Jd (2 players)

JoeThePro bets $15, CO calls $15.

All the worries about the scary board are gone. The J is a scary card for anything Villian could have had, coupled with the check raise on the flop, any big bet will force a fold, so I bet small with my lock hand.

River: ($63) 2s (2 players)

JoeThePro bets $28, CO calls $28.

Safe river, but Villian is still probably cautious. I bet small again to get some value vs Top Pair or QQ, KK, AA.


Final Pot: $119


Results in white below:

JoeThePro has 8d 8s (full house, eights full of jacks).

CO has Js Ks (three of a kind, jacks).

Outcome: JoeThePro wins $119.

Results show that he had a jack. I probably could have stacked him, but I felt that my play wasn't bad.


Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (6 handed)

saw flop|saw showdown


UTG ($68.47)
MP ($51.38)
JoeThePro ($154.90)
Button ($158.39)
SB ($104.01)
BB ($100)

Preflop: JoeThePro is CO with 5c, 5h.

2 folds, JoeThePro raises to $3.5, Button raises to $8, 2 folds, JoeThePro calls $4.50.

Min raises preflop almost always means a monster hand or medium pair like 77-JJ.

Flop: ($17.50) 5s, 2c, Qh (2 players)

JoeThePro checks, Button bets $10, JoeThePro raises to $20, Button calls $140.39 (All-In), JoeThePro calls $126.90 (All-In).

I only lose to QQ. I'm surprised of his move but it's an easy call.

Turn: ($314.79) Jh (2 players, 2 all-in)


River: ($314.79) Qd (2 players, 2 all-in)


Final Pot: $314.79

Results in white below:

JoeThePro has 5c 5h (full house, fives full of queens).

Button has Ah Ks (one pair, queens).

Outcome: JoeThePro wins $311.30. Button wins $3.48.

posted by joe | permalink | 0 comments