A preflop question for the 2-3 style blind structure

[Clinger]

Last night, I was playing in a blind structure in which the small blind is 2/3 of the big blind. Heres a sample situation:

Some folds, a loose/passive limps, some more folds, and the LAG button raises. We are in the small blind, and the BB is a straightforward TAG.

The button is raising maybe the top 30% of his hands as well as at least a random 10% of the rest--and that's before he went on mega tilt from a recent hand in which we had KK and he had Q8 on a Q88(Kx) board. He has raised 52o preflop, before the tough hand. Now he's really steaming.

We have also iso-raised him before with ATo, and gone to showdown on a KQQ and 2 rags board, and showed the ace high (he had JJ). So both he and the BB know we are capable of isolating.

If we were in a normal blind structure, I would:
Raise with 66+, A8o+, A6s+, KQs
Call with KQo, KJs, QJs, QTs-JTs
and fold the rest.

Since it was a 2/3 small blind, I planned to:
Raise 22+, A6o+, A2s+, KJo+, KJs-KQs, KQo-KJo
Call KTs-K7s, QJs-Q8s, JTs-J9s

So, how'd I do, micros?

[neurotiq]

If it were me, I'd continue to play the same hands at the same odds. It just means that I'm playing more preflop because I'll be getting better odds a lot more often (so, for example, if I'm dealt a hand that I want 7:1 preflop to play...if SB = 1/2 BB, then I need two limpers to get 7:1. With SB = 2/3 BB, I only need need one limper to get better than 7:1 now).

[Clinger]

Well it costs us less to isolate with a hand that has showdown value UI, like pairs and ace high hands, that are ahead of his range.

So I think we want to open up our raising range to make this HU with the LAG, and do so more often than we would in a typical blind structure because the risk/reward ratio is better.

But it's very possible I'm overcompensating, which is why I posted this [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[marchron]

Your odds are not that much better. With one limper and a raiser and you in the SB putting up $1, there's $13 in the pot ($1 SB, $3 BB, $3 limp, $6 raise) and you have to call $5, for 2½ish-1 odds; but if you pay $2 you're getting 14-4 or 3½-1. Yeah, it's nicer, but it's not nearly the bonus that you get if the pot is unraised when it gets to you.

And your three-betting range should be exactly the same. In both cases, you have to assume the call and the reraise is exactly the same.

[Smurph64]

I don't think the sb investment is worth extending the range as much for isolating, rather I think it gives me a few more that I can limp with.

[LukeSLTS]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think the sb investment is worth extending the range as much for isolating, rather I think it gives me a few more that I can limp with.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT. The 2/3 sb does not make raising more attractive than a normal blind structure. At least to any great degree. Your main reason for raising any hand here is the player on the button and his exploitable tendencies. I do not think raising a hand like 22-55 is a profitable play in this spot. However, because you are getting a slight discount calling with these small pairs for set value becomes more attractive.