Standard 3XBB Preflop Raise even early in tourney?

[MNMP2]

I have been adapting my play in tourneys to the style laid out in the sticky posts here and the advice given in other posts. It is working well, and I am getting better and better. Through playing this advice out in tournaments, I have come up with a need for clarification on the strategy of making consistent 3XBB preflop raises.

Is it still effective to do that when the blinds are only 10/20 or 15/30?

I feel like I am giving people way too much opportunity by only raising my KK for instance to 90 chips. Too many callers.

I am also feeling like I am not getting the kind of value out of good hands early in the tournament doing this, which makes it tougher to double or triple up early.

Please clarify this for me!

Thanks

[Sykedupp]

i only raise 3x when the blinds hit 25/50 and up. early on I usually raise 5x... but it depends on table texture.

-Chris

[bikocruz]

You have to pay attention to how the table is playing, but most fish/dead money will call a 3xBB bet, especially if they've already limped, in the early stages. I agree with Chris, a 5xBB bet will drop a lot more people, but sometimes that doesn't even do the trick. If your table is calling EVERYTHING, and i mean everything which happens sometimes then dont't be afraid to drop the fucking hammer. Remember it's better to win a small pot than to loose a huge one.
-Biko

[MNMP2]

Appreciate your responses guys, but maybe I should rephrase this question. I want to know what the Rippy and Rada posts are teaching about MTT play. They say (and some of the other big guns on this site say) to keep your preflop raises at an even 3Xbb.

I want to know if that holds true for the very early stages of the tourneys, and is there a way to still get value out of big hands if the answer is "yes, always raise 3xbb, even if BB is 20".

Based on the strategies taught here.

[digitaldoc]

My quick thought would be, watch the table and notice what kind of bet it takes to isolate single players verses multiple callers. The 3xBB definitely applies later on in the tournament when blinds are much larger in comparison to average stack sizes.

Based on the strategies taught here, I would interpret them along the lines of tight is right up front. When you do play, you should be playing top premium hands that you want to get heads up agains one player. AA, KK, QQ are cracked much more often facing two people instead of one. Bet enough to narrow the field down to one opponent.

In my experience, most standard raises up front are not respected until they get in the triple digits. Maybe it's just a mental thing on my part, but a raise to 100 tends to narrow the field much more than a raise to 90 when the blinds are 15/30.

[ZenOffsuit]

If I get a premium pp early:

1st round: 6 - 7x bb
2nd round: 5-6x bb

You will be amazed how many times you will still get one or two callers.

[gabe]

Appreciate your responses guys, but maybe I should rephrase this question. I want to know what the Rippy and Rada posts are teaching about MTT play. They say (and some of the other big guns on this site say) to keep your preflop raises at an even 3Xbb.

in short, no. early on raising 4-10bb when the need arises is fine.

[drmcboy]

Yep, I raise to at least 100 at 10/20, and will usually add 1x per limp. 15/30 120 to open.

[elanto]

when the blinds are at 10/20 ill raise 100-200 depends on my table (how loose it is), on the second level ill raisae from 150-240 (again depending on the read i have on my table), I start raising three times the big blind when blinds get to 25/50 or 50/100...


-anto

[soupie]

Instead of looking for some formula on how to play, put on your poker hat and think like a poker player.

You get premium hands early in a tourney, what is your goal? What do you want to accomplish with this hand?

I personally want to go for a double up and am willing to take additional risk to get it. If this means smooth calling and looking to catch someone overplaying, i may play it that way. I may put out a 10x raise and narrow the field with limpers in front of me. If the table has caught me raising 3x with junk esp. in position, i am definately raising 3x. See what i mean?

The problem most people have with premiums early is they are afraid to get the hand beat and when it is beat, they cant lay it down. Divest yourself from the emotional trap of absolutely having to win everytime you get AA and KK and your game and your ability to sleep well will improve.

[Alibi]

I think the point they are trying ot make is that at the same table you shouldn't be raising 3xBB one hand and 4xBB the next; it refers more to the later stages of the tourney.

[MNMP2]

Instead of looking for some formula on how to play, put on your poker hat and think like a poker player.

Well said. I am working on that. Everyone has a different way of learning. I find that I do well when at first (in any endeavor), I can have some guidelines to follow - some basics to lay down the foundation. Once I feel comfortable with that, then I find that I begin to reach a new level where those things are no longer the hard and fast rules anymore because I understand everything on a deeper level.

This thread has helped me with that.

Now I'm just pumped that I have a Soupie response in one of my posts!

*bronzes post and hangs on wall

pokerchamps freerolls are so loose sometimes that the only raise people understand is all-in even at 10-20 blinds (you start with 1000 chips)

remember that since there are more players that bad at the early stage you want to play tight (also due to the blinds) and get a good hand
if you're on a tight table you'll see it and you might have to adjust your strategy
if you're on a loose table you can go all in and expect to get called

but on noblepoker you can raise 3x even early on because only 500 people get in and the slots fill up in under a minute, so usually more dedicated players play

so, in short, know who you're playing against and adjust accordingly