11 replies to this topic

[H8it4ya]

This is probably the weakest part of my game. I was wondering how some of you play various hands from the blinds. Is the biggest concern you have is what seat the initial raise is coming from? what hands do you like to smooth call with, what hands do you like to reraise with, how you decide when it's time to defend you blind? any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Absolute]

theres a post goin on about this right now with the obvious title stealin from the blinds or something.thanks for reading the forum

[cdddc75]

Absolute said:

theres a post goin on about this right now with the obvious title stealin from the blinds or something.thanks for reading the forum

Last I checked, blind stealing and blind defending were separate topics. They're each worthy of their own threads.

[econ_tim]

To the OP: You need to consider who made the initial raise, and how many people are in the pot.If the pot is multiway, you can defend with anything you could play from late position, except some weak offsuit broadways.Reraise a multiway pot with premium hands. Don't worry about giving away the strength of you hand, since getting additional bets from everyone is more important in a multiway pot.If you are heads up against an early or mid position raiser, I would raise the requirements for defending. If you know the raiser, though, you could play hands like low suited connectors that would be drawing very live against the raise.If you're against a blind steal (head up against button or CO) then defend with anything you would play from late position and maybe some weaker Aces or Kings depending on how agressive the stealer is.I generally don't reraise against a blind steal, except with very good hands.

[Kendren]

The position a raise comes in from is definately a consideration when deciding to defend. The earlier it comes, generally, the stronger the hand. It's something I also have problems with (geez, my game really must suck)

[gobears]

This is from a no limit perspective and in general assuming no specific reads. I play it straighforward if the raise is coming from EP to MP. If I have a premium hand such as AA, KK, QQ, AK, I will re-raise. JJ, 10 10, 99, AQ, I'll probably call.The earlier the seat from which the raise comes, the stronger the hand is required to raise or call. JJ for example, I'll call a raise from EP but from MP+2, I'll re-raise.If there's a raise and then a re-raise; your requirements for re-raising/calling just went up. Read up on Sklansky's Gap Theory about this subject.When the first raise comes from LP with no prior limpers, then this could be a blind steal. If I have a relatively strong hand, I will re-raise with AQ, AJ, KQ, 88 if I feel that the raiser is weak. I will call with a suited connector, small PP, or other such hand that I might normally fold.This works for a 2x to 3x BB raise - if the raiser is overbetting (4x and up), then I'll wait for a stronger hand to play against him/ Mix it up, defend enough so that the other players know that they just can't run over you. Know when you're beat and how to lay it down - don't be stubborn when you're defending your blind.

[Absolute]

cdddc75 said:

Absolute said:

theres a post goin on about this right now with the obvious title stealin from the blinds or something.thanks for reading the forum

Last I checked, blind stealing and blind defending were separate topics. They're each worthy of their own threads.

NOTHEY ARE THE SAMEEXACTLY THE SAME

[cdddc75]

Absolute said:

cdddc75 said:

Absolute said:

theres a post goin on about this right now with the obvious title stealin from the blinds or something.thanks for reading the forum

Last I checked, blind stealing and blind defending were separate topics. They're each worthy of their own threads.

NOTHEY ARE THE SAMEEXACTLY THE SAME

shut up JFarrell.

[Absolute]

cdddc75 said:

Absolute said:

cdddc75 said:

Absolute said:

theres a post goin on about this right now with the obvious title stealin from the blinds or something.thanks for reading the forum

Last I checked, blind stealing and blind defending were separate topics. They're each worthy of their own threads.

NOTHEY ARE THE SAMEEXACTLY THE SAME

shut up JFarrell.

MAKE ME

[DCWildcat]

Blind play depends a lot on the stakes...what are they?

[H8it4ya]

i was referring to nl tournies

[Absolute]

H8it4ya said:

i was referring to nl tournies

This changes a lot.Unfortunately I am not confident enough in my MTT NL abilities to give you good advice. (Although I know a fair amount)I'll see if I can't dig up some good advice on stealing in MTTs on 2+2 for you.The first thing that pops in to my mind, naturally, is your stack relative to the blinds.I don't like to steal blind (meaning with any two cards) without a fair amount of stats on the blinds themselves. Nor do I like to call raises in the blinds with marginal hands without a lot of hands and stats on the raiser, especially in tournaments.Being out of position sucks.