declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

This example is from a live cash game and will try to demonstrate my idea.

Reads: Recently sat down, so no reliable reads on any one player. Relatively low stacks which I’m assuming are making up for the relatively loose-aggressive play.

$25/$50 - No Limit Hold'em
Seat 1: Player 1 ($2800)
Seat 2: Player 2 (9000)
Seat 3: Player 3 ($3000)
Seat 4: Player 4 ($3600)
Seat 5: Player 5($4000)
Seat 6: Hero ($5000)
Player 5 posts the small blind of $25
Hero posts the big blind of $50
The button is in seat #4
HOLE CARDS
Dealt to Hero (Tc Ts)
Player 1 folds
Player 2 raises to 200
Player 3 calls
Player 4 calls
Player 5 calls
Hero raises to 1200
Player 2 folds
Player 3 calls
Player 4 folds
Player 5 folds
POT (2825)
----------------------------------------
This is where my question comes into play. At this point based on the size of my raise it is obvious I’m either making an attempt at stealing the blinds or more likely have a premium hand. I can put the caller on a wide range of hands due to how the game has played so far. His range is likely AQ, AJ, AT, maybe Ax suited, and then 22-99. I do not put him on suited connectors because although calling the original raiser may have been justified, calling my big re-raise was not. I also don’t put him on JJ-AA simply because I believe he would have raised the original raiser. The pot is now 2825 and the only caller has 2800 left. I declare all in before the flop comes. My reasoning is that in this case a c-bet on the flop would be close to the size of the pot. The only option I have is betting 2825. Since I am in early position and am first to act anyways I hope that my all-in raise before the flop tells the caller that I have a good hand that will be best on most flops.

I believe if he has:

1) low pockets and believes I have high cards, he may call if the flop comes all rags.
2) If he hits 2nd pair he may let it go due to the strength of my play in the hand so far.
3) He will only call if he hits TP, 2 pair or a set.
4) In my position it is much easier to raise all-in before seeing the flop.

What do you think of this play?

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

I'm sorry, but this is just [censored] priceless.

Edit: Heh, my bad, I didn't see how many callers there were before OP jacked it up to $1,200 pre. Thought it went UTG+1 open, next in call, then uppppppppp to 12 we goo! Still pretty funny tho.

(I know, great strat. contribution neon, thanks for showing up . . . [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img])

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

doesn't the caller only have $1800 left?

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

[censored] sorry i misposted, he had 4k. This was off the top of my head so...

in terms of the first poster i have no clue what he is trying to say.

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

i don't think he will ever fold a better hand than you on the flop. he may however call with a smaller pair if the board comes down raggy. so i guess it's ok.

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

I don't play that high, but your opponent does not need to make a decision before he sees the flop. Your move will make his decision easier, and he will make fewer mistakes. Is it what you want?

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

[ QUOTE ]
in terms of the first poster i have no clue what he is trying to say.

[/ QUOTE ]

he's probably on drugs.

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

id laugh if the flop was T high and he folds [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I think this is so strange / weird theres no real way to predict how the villain will inturprate this move. i mean he could take it many different ways. However given the range you put him on, whats wrong with just seeing a flop and then deciding what to do...

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

well the simple reason is that i am first to act post flop and the pot is bigger than what he has left. Am i really supposed to check the flop? I have to bet and theres no point in betting half the pot because even if he pushes i have to call. I know he may interpret in a variety of ways whats wrong with giving him something else think about during the hand. Also i disagree with the poster that stated he wont fold a better hand on the flop. What if you have KQ in that position and the flop comes A Q 4 or A K 4, would you call?

Re: declaring all in before seeing the flop
 

this is pretty standard in the position you're in. i do this all the time when i am the re-raiser and there is only one pot sized bet left or so. i know i'm pushing any flop once committing half my stack preflop so i just do it in the dark so that he cant get any read off of the flop texture or anything to help him make his decision (usually fold) correctly.