I played in a live MTT down in Atlantic City last weekend, and I had a fair amount of success stealing pots from the big blind after the flop. The basic scenario was a pot in which there was only one limper preflop, the SB completed the bet, and I checked. If the flop came down with only one painted card (e.g., a J or Q), I'd fire out a decent-size bet if the SB checked the flop. All four times that I tried this, I took down the pot without a contest.

As well as this worked out, I've been thinking that this type of play might require a little more preflop work to sell the post-flop bet more often. Presumably, I took down these pots because the flops completely missed all my opponents. However, the preflop limps usually mean some small pairs or middle connectors, and a middle flop with one high card may very well hit these opponents. To get them to laydown their middle pair, I'd have to make them believe that I held the high card, which is more easily sold if I had raised before the flop.

Thus, when faced with this situation again, I am thinking about making a standard raise from the BB regardless of my hole cards. The raise may get my opponents to fold right there, but if not, it can set up the steal with the right kind of flop.

What do you think? Is the preflop raise a good idea that materially increases the chance of post-flop success, or is it a waste of chips?

it all depends on your reads. otherwise its just a gamble. for instance you said that you would raise from the BB when only the SB limps in no matter what cards you had so if you know youre gonna bet the flop even if it doesnt hit you then if there is face cards out there then there is a chance your opponent hit seeing as how he called your raise. this of course depends on a few things such as how big was your PF raise? is your opponent a tight player?

I like the play but it has to scarce and one time you must show a good hand. It will set up other stabs, but becareful because if your playing against me and make that move a couple of times ill slow play something or reraise you. So make it not so frequent.

I have two pieces of advice.

First, your play depends largely on factors like: the type of players you are playing against, the number of people at the table, what the various stack sizes are, how you are percieved by the other players, etc.

Second, you should vary what you do when faced with the same situation. If you do the same thing every time, good players will notice this quickly and it will stop working for you. Of course, against bad players you can probably get away with this all night long.