[Purple]

I think this is a good/ok raise under the present circumstances. But there are some downsides.

Even though you´re in the money and bubble psycology might of less importance, I do think that at least 4 players at the table are waiting for the short stack (stacks) to bust before them, and before they are willing to make a move (gamble).

Lets look at the stacksizes using M´s instead of chips.

MP1 8,2
MP2 16,5
CO 10,8
B 4,9
sb 3,6
bb 3,1
HERO 26,6

I actually think that the precense of those two small stacks is one of the main reasons youre raises get so much respect. You can attac 4 players (having position) when they have the BB (8,2 16,5 10,8 4,9) and they know that if they play a BIG pot against you most of the prizemoney-EV will be going to the short stacks.

OK, when you raise utg with 74s, 4 things will happen (probably alot more of course, but for practical reasons I say 4).

**1. Exactly what happend here. All fold to BB, who pushes and you call (corectlly). You lost the pot and the new setup looks like this (I´m using the same name to the players even though their position changes)

MP1 8,2
MP2 16,5
CO 10,8
B 4,9
sb 3
bb 6,5
HERO 23,5

**2. Same thing, but you won the hand.

MP1 8,2
MP2 16,5
CO 10,8
B 4,9
sb 3
bb 0
HERO 30

**3. If you don´t get called.

MP1 8,2
MP2 16,5
CO 10,8
B 4,9
sb 3,1
bb 2,5
HERO 27,6


**4. Finaly you might get reraised by any of the medium stacks and you fold.

MP1 10,5
MP2 16,5
CO 10,8
B 4,9
sb 3,1
bb 2,5
HERO 25


Now, My thoughts about the new possible outcomes.

**2. Best that can happen. 2 small stack present so you still have plenty of opportunties to bully the medium stacks.

**3. Good, the folding percentage of the medium stacks will increase even more when someone is as low as 2,5 M.

**4. No real harm done, at all.

**1. Now the dynamics has changed and that "might" lower your ability to bully. 4 stacks can now "hurt" you if you loose an all in to them, and MP1 might be more inclined to gamle becuase he lost his "distance" to one of the short stacks.

And you dont have the same good position as you had before the hand. I think that the starting lineup, with the two shortest stack immeditly on youre right is worth alot, I´m not sure who much though. If the other players see this as a struggle for second place, you might be better of keeping the stacks at a status quo, instead of getting a semi-small stack in between you and the desperatly small ones.


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