I've been playing quite a bit of 0.5 - 1 six max at party and have found myself making the following play on occassion. Suppose I get a 'drawing hand' such as 9 10 or 8 9 in LP after two limpers. Instead of just calling I'll raise. My thinking is that this builds the pot so that I will be getting the correct odds to call my draws on the flop / turn.

e.g. if I don't raise (assume SB folds BB checks) then the pot will be 2.25BB on the flop and so 2.75 if bet to me. This gives me odds to draw to OESD / flush on flop but possibly not on the turn if a blank falls.

However, if I raise pf (assume SB/BB fold, limpers call) then the pot will be 3.75BB on flop and so 4.25 if bet to me by one limper. This will give me the correct odds to draw to OESD / flush on both the flop AND turn. I may even get the odds for a gutshot straight draw if both limpers bet / call flop (pot 4.75BB).

In addition my pre-flop raise gives me bluff potential on the flop when both limpers check to me.

If this play is only break even for these specific hands I believe that it may be profitable as part of an overall strategy. When I've done this play I've often had comments in the chat box as 'you raise with that trash?'. Therefore, I can get paid off big-time when I have a monster, as people believe that I bluff alot, when I rarely do and just call bets on the flop when I have the correct odds to do so.

Any thoughts on this?

Hey Ashley,



This is not a good reason to raise. Think about it. You're saying that you put in more money now, so that you can put in more money later. It's a money burner.

A better reason to raise would be because you have an equity edge, you want ot increase your postflop fold equity, it disguises your hand, buying the button, etc.

I typically wouldn't raise with these hands, I usually just call. But I don't think it's incorrect to do so in the situation you outlined. Probably neutral EV. I will almost always raise with JTs and QJs though.

You bloat the pot with marginal hands (especially SH) to justify putting more money in on the flop even if you're not a huge favorite.

This reasoning seems flawed to me.



Not at 6-max it doesn't. And especially not on Party Poker .5/1. You have no fold equity.



The effect on your image won't compensate for what you lose overplaying preflop hands that are quite bad short handed (especially if you go to SD to show them). Plus, on party .5/1, players don't notice. Even the ones that type in chat will have forgotten that a few hands after.