A little about me first, I am a winning online player @ Merge micro stakes up to 50NL. I am moving to Vegas soon and plan to grind some 1/2 when I get a little more cash together for a BR... so you'll probably start to see more hands from me soon.

Many people seem to advocate making large raise sizes pre-flop. I agree with this advice at some tables -- but it seems there are certain tables where a smaller raise is a better play.

As an example, at a 1/2 table, assume you have KQ in the HJ with 4 limpers in front.

At table A you're likely to thin the field with a raise to $20, and besides one or two of the limpers there is only a small chance of being called by anyone left to act.

At table B if you raise to $20, you're unlikely to thin the field and 3 or more limpers are likely to call, not to mention there is a very good chance of a cold call from one of the players who has not yet entered the pot.

It seems to me that on table B a smaller raise to something small like $10 is a better play, because you are not going to be able to continue without hitting at least TP. Even with TP I think you have to proceed cautiously and really need 2 pair+ or a good draw to the nuts to continue against any serious action.

That means when you whiff you can just check/fold and lose only $10, compared to losing $20, but still easily get your stack inside when you think you're ahead.

Thoughts?

"It depends," is the only answer to your question that makes any sense.

I'm gonna lock this thread, because I think it leaves things too wide open and is going to spawn a ton of posts saying "you have to consider a, b or c" and a bunch of other posts where people answer your question as if there is one right answer without even realizing that what they think is right is based on 8658 unstated assumptions that they take for granted, but may not be true at other tables.

That said, I DO think the forum could benefit from having a detailed theory thread about raise sizing.

So how about this, OP: read one or two of our concept of the month threads, such as this one, to get a feel for what they look like, and then take a crack at writing a detailed theory CotM on raise sizing. Say, any time by Sep. 1?

if you agree, we'll leave it stickied for at least a month, and it will generate a terrific discussion on an important subject.

Cool? If so, shoot me a PM.

OP likes a challenge, we're gonna have a new CotM on this subject on or before 9/1.

Thanks, OP!