[kak1154]

I wouldn't quite say 10xBB is standard, but it is not uncommon after some limpers. This is mostly true in 1-2NL. The higher you go, the closer you get to 3-4xBB standard opening raises. Even at 2-5NL, $20 is a common opening raise.

Try raising to $6 in a 1-2NL live game, and see what happens. You'll get just as many callers as if you limped, maybe more. From what I've seen, I'd say the standard open in 1-2NL is $12 to $15.

Now, as for my theory behind it, I think it stems from the fact that online money is "fake money." It's just points on your account. Online players tend to think of a raise in "units," rather than actual dollar amounts. In a casino, people see a raise to 6 or 7 dollars as no big deal, cuz "it's only 6 bucks." I do it, too. I'll call a raise to $7 with pretty much any hand I'll limp with, but not a raise to $12.

Another important point is that, since people are more likely to pay you off live than online (in general), your implied odds go way up. You can guarantee that someone will be willing to fight for a pot that was raised a little, rather than limped.

I'll quit before I start rambling (too late?), but you get the idea.