Re-raise size

[Anosmic]

Okay, so if I'm in position with a normal open-raise and a call behind me what's a good size re-raise?

If opener use 4xBB an there's a caller then there's a 9.5BB pot. Is a PSB right?
(blinds are still to act).

[koolmoe]

There's actually 13.5 BB in the pot, because your reraise includes a call. So if you want to "pot it" (pot limit term), it would be 4 BB + 13.5 BB = 17.5 BB. Your opponents would be calling 13.5 BB, and the total pot would be 27 BB after your reraise. Notice that they are getting 2:1 odds, the same odds they would get if you opened (say on the flop) with a PSB.

Most people don't reraise enough when they reraise, IMO. I think it's because they aren't thinking about the amount their opponents will have left to call after the opening raise, and so the reraisers aren't aware of the odds they are really laying.

[aislephive]

I used to always just reraise whatever the pot size was, and that's typically a little more than 3x the original raise. Now I've been 3 betting to a little less than 4x regardless of my hand. So for example if somebody opened for $7 in a 200nl game, I'd usually reraise to $22. Now I'll 3 bet to like $26 in that same spot. It takes the pot down more preflop, cuts down their implied odds, etc. Conversely, my 4 bet sizes are much smaller than most.

[alias2211]

Most people don't reraise enough when they reraise, IMO. I think it's because they aren't thinking about the amount their opponents will have left to call after the opening raise, and so the reraisers aren't aware of the odds they are really laying.

kool is making a really good point. it's extremely important to be able to work backwards from an allin amount (depending on who has who covered), depending on what type of line you're running (trying to showdown w/ a monster PF, running a bluff to change gears, etc.). in other words, don't just hammer the bet pot button until you find yourself OOP with only 1/4 of the pot size behind, hoping to be able to push someone out of the pot because it isn't gonna happen. conversely, bet enough with your monsters so that when you do make your push, it doesn't seem too scary or too much of an overbet to ever get enough calls.

work backwards from the allin amount and you'll find the right bet size.

[Fnord]

Until you get into games where many players are strong hand readers (figure the 400NL and up online), bet sizing is much more about figuring out what you want to do and making it happen. Make sure you're aware of how much money will be behind after your bet, if you want to go all-in on the hand and how many streets you have to make that happen.

That being said, I tend to under-bet a little in spots like this. I'd rather build a pot and let my oppoents hang themselves post-flop than put them to a difficult decision pre-flop. Just don't give the ranch away to someone who's likely to have a pocket pair.

[Fnord]

I thought this hand was well played from a bet size perspective. I did everything I could to get value without giving my opponents implied odds to break me.

I lost a modest hand in the prior pot, so I'm short, but the money is deep enough on the flop to be a little interesting.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Fnord ($121.30)
SB ($300.05)
BB ($237.30)
UTG ($114.35)
MP ($206)
CO ($185.15)

Preflop: Fnord is Button with 7, 8.
2 folds, CO calls $2, Fnord calls $2, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($8) K, 7, 8 (4 players)
SB bets $5, BB folds, CO calls $5, Fnord raises to $20, SB calls $15, CO calls $15.

Turn: ($68) T (3 players)
SB checks, CO checks, Fnord bets $99.3 (All-In)