[Antinome]

[ QUOTE ]
Preflop: I like a raise here but I'd go higher. You're definitely a favorite over a random BB hand, so try and get some more in there.


[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree with this, by raising more you are:

1. Increasing the number of times your SB steal has to be successful to be profitable. Suppose you always raised to 4.5 BB to win 1 BB. Breakeven for the street means he folds 77%. Raising 3BB here means breakeven is 66%. Obviously this isn't the only street, but if you can get the street to pay for itself, why not do it? Maybe this isn't a pure steal, but most of your SB raises will be, (right?) so make this look the same.

2. Not changing his fold % much. He's playing almost the same hands he would to any raise anyway, whether 3BB or 4.5.

3. Building a pot OOP. In the SB I'm definitely looking to make this a small pot that I take down now or on the flop with a cbet. The further in we go the bigger his positional advantage is.

4. Putting yourself in a position where you can't call a small raise with good implied odds.