I feel I struggle to deal with SSNL with limping and callers preflop. It's taking my postflop edge away when I go 5 ways to the flop as PFR constantly.

I feel this mostly applies to 1/2 so let's keep the conversation there. What sizing does anyone feel can effectively isolate pots down to either heads up or 3 ways post flop at 1/2? I feel there is definitely no good number that works. I keep finding myself as PFR to like $15 and still go 5 ways or more to the flop.

The only way to isolate it seems is a 3! to like 35-40 when they go for 12 initial raise, but I can't open raise to 35 since everyone folds.

How do I size correctly to get less callers on my open raises when in early and MP? Bigger sizing in early and MP?

Mostly pay attention to what people at the table will call. I've been at 1/2 tables where $5 was enough and tables where $20 would get multiple callers. Typically I start with $15 in EP and reduce my size towards $10 as I get to the button, +$2 per limper if there are already limpers.

One of the biggest skills at 1/2 is adjusting your range on the fly. Because villains don't adjust to bet sizing or stack sizes much you have to adjust your range to maximize value. If you have to open/raise big and/or stacks are small then aim for pure strong value. Open your range up as sizing gets smaller and SPR goes up.

There was just a big discussion about this here Why do we raise preflop when we know the 5 limpers in front of us are just going to call? and you can search the forums for more.

So you're wondering how to make your opponents play correctly?

The alternative to increasing your bet size is tightening your range, especially in EP and MP. The implication here is that you don't like the results you are getting post-flop; if you were winning a bunch of big multi-way pots you wouldn't be asking how to avoid getting called.

If I am raising 5BB with a pretty tight range and getting a bunch of callers I don't mind, bc I am eventually going to get paid off a bunch by weaker kickers and I can get more than my share of dead money.

+1

Stop trying to change their play, and change yours instead.

Where is your edge going? To the guy who check/calls his two pair draw to the river and folds unimproved, or to the guy who x/r TPNK to "see where he's at," or to the guy who fails to value bet the second nuts because "you wouldn't have called anyway?" As long as opponents are making mistakes that you wouldn't make in their shoes you have a postflop edge. Also, don't forget that you are wearing Nike Air Jordans and they are wearing two pieces of cardboard that they've turned into a makeshift pair of sandals. A pre-flop edge a post-flop edge.

You don’t beat 1/2 by iso’ing players. You are much better off exploiting the natural tendencies they exhibit, such as limping too much or calling too large pre flop raises.

There may also be a psychological element because you lose more hands multi-way. Not to oversimplify, but if you get HU and win 2/3 of your hands you may not do as well as if you get into 5-way pots and lose 2/3 of your hands. Even though you are making more money you "feel" like you are losing more hands... because you are.

THIS. Wow that's a really interesting perspective. The psychology of having to play 5 handed where regardless of my skill edge against each individual is handcuffing profitability. I am losing more multiway pots because I should naturally more players in make it more likely one will connect. I just need to deal with those spots and not get in my head too much about wanting to be HU or 3 ways. I suppose it just is part of the nature of 1/2 which changes when in a 2/5 game.

Also, I would like to thank those who provided legitimate perspectives and strategies and didn't want to just bash

I have seen a little sarcasm, but nobody bashing. A few takeaways:

1. Change your range and not just your bet sizes

2. Don't stop your opps from overpaying to see flops.

3. Make sure you have a good exploitation strategy post-flop.

This last point is the most difficult, because you are going to have to fold a lot with hands that were ahead pre. The risk, and this may be part of your frustration, is that you have the best hands pre and overplay them post. Controlling pot size so you don't get stacked when opp hits something stupid is key. Folding to resistance and not getting caught up in the "I was ahead and that's not supposed to happen" mentality takes discipline.

Don't be afraid of multi-way pots if you are sure you have a post-flop edge, but also make sure that is the case and you aren't losing too many big pots and winning too many small ones.

Raising and even raise size itself has very little effect on how many people see a flop at a typical (loose) LLSNL table.

Gdowiththatinformationasyouseefit,imoG

So? Open to $35 with J6 then and let them all fold.

Don't complain about how other people play. They can play however they want. Do what you need to do to beat them. If $15 gets 5 callers and $35 gets none, make it $25 preflop if you want 1-2 callers.

Stop complaining and manipulate people into doing what you want them to do. If the table is super tight, raise 53s and show when they all fold. If the table is too loose, limp a big pair in EP and when theres a raise and 4 calls, jam all your chips in.