Part: Part Nine - Inflection Points: M, Q & the Zones

Jam, don't make a committing raise

Pre-flop
Blinds 400 / 800 (100 ante)Pot 2,100 (2.6 BB)Your M = 7 • Orange zoneMP9♠9♦● 14,700 (18.4 BB)YOUfirst to actSB● 16,000 (20 BB)posts 400 (0.5 BB)BB● 16,000 (20 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

Orange zone (M 7). It folds to you in middle position with 9♠9♦.

Orange zone, folded to you in MP with 9♠9♦. Best?

WhyOpen-shove. At M 7 a standard raise commits much of your stack and leaves you guessing post-flop; open-jamming 9-9 maximizes fold equity, avoids tough flop decisions, and you're never in bad shape when called. In the Orange zone, jam your good hands rather than make a committing raise.
What happensYou shove; the blinds fold (or you're flipping at worst).  Jam, don't half-commit.
At Orange-zone depth, a normal-sized raise commits you anyway but surrenders the flop to a caller - so with a hand you'll play, just jam and take the fold equity cleanly.

In the Orange zone, open-jam your committing hands rather than making a raise you can't fold - the shove captures fold equity and avoids guessing post-flop.