RFI Frequencies in Raked vs Unraked Games
My understanding has always been that adding postflop rake (e.g., 10% max 2bb) should result in slightly tighter preflop ranges and more 3-betting.
However, looking at GTO Wizard 8-max preflop ranges at 100bb and 200bb deep with a 3x open sizing shows the opposite pattern: frequencies get higher (looser) with the addition of rake. Can someone help explain this?
2 Replies
It mostly just *massively* changes defense ranges from BB and call/3b ranges from the other positions.
Edit** it also depends on how wide people are defending... above is all equilibrium, but if there is rake and BB defends wider than he should both players can lose EV, so for exploitative reasons you can also open tighter in a higher rake environment. Also, the "shape" of the RFI range will change slightly depending on rake + stack depth.
if a single open raise wins the blinds(no ante, no straddle), these pots are not usually raked.
if the single open raise gets action, these pots are raked.
look at the profitability of calling in the big blind preflop vs a 3x.
pay 2bb into what will be a ~6.25 bb pot(32% of pot). if there wasn't rake it would be 2/6.5 = ~30.769% of pot.
this means you need a stronger defending range to justify the larger investment; open raises can seize more preflop ev uncontested and unraked, compared to an unraked game. however if the table isn't letting u have that ev, the bottom of your range will suffer.
insert more paragraphs about profitability later in the hand.. yada yada yada dynamics bs yada yada.. gotta run. gl
