Playing the Blinds in Poker

Randy · 06-03-2008, 07:22 PM

Playing The Blinds

Following our series of leaning to Beating Small Stakes Poker. I thought you all might have some good input on this topic. This article covers playing the blinds in Poker. Playing the blinds for most players is just a nuisance and something they expect to lose money at.

Over your poker lifetime it will probably prove true that you will lose money long term, we all know that poker is a game of small edges and margins. So, playing the blinds becomes less about losing money, and more about minimizing your losses and maximizing your gains.

This articles covers:

Playing the blinds in cash games
Playing the small blind
Playing the Big Blind heads up
Playing the Small Blind after the flop
Playing the Big Blind after the flop

Here is the article: Playing The Blinds In Poker

Let's get some discussion going

sfustsh · 06-03-2008, 08:50 PM

It is my opinion that limp-reraising with a big hand from the SB is a horrible play and offering it as general advice is just shitty. It is the kind of play that should only be done against a habitual positional raiser. Many, many players at low stakes are happy to check their option in the BB instead of raise, so limp reraising is bad advice to state generally.

sevens · 06-03-2008, 11:13 PM

Since I've been doing it a little more lately and I've had success with it, I'll bring up the point of raising light from the blinds after limpers.

Things to consider:
- What position they limped from
- What type of player they are (aka, stats/reads/whatever)
- If they like to play fit or fold, or if they are calling stations or not
- Your hand

The discussion on this idea can get pretty lengthy, but the concept I hinge this on is that it's much easier to play against extreme ranges (super nitty or super loose), and MP/LP limpers are weak almost all the time. This can be pretty costly unless your c-betting game is sharp. Know where you can do it and where you should probably just c/f. If your steal attempt failed - you raised KQs from the SB after 3 LP limpers and they all called - c/f unless you flop well. Be less willing to c-bet into more players, and very willing to c-bet against one. Be less willing to bet into players that are calling anyways, and be more willing to bet "obvious" flops. I mean A high and K high rainbow unconnected boards. But even with a hand like 55 and only one loose opponent, I'll still probably be c-betting a board with two overs, especially if one is an A or K.

Loose passives are much easier to take advantage of, and the only disadvantage of being OOP against them when you're stealing from the blinds is that it will cost you a c-bet to find out if they actually flopped something. In the long run though, I can see this being profitable.

edit: Just so there's no confusion, I'm not talking about raising junk. I'm talking about opening up a little more than you usually would. Instead of completing with middle PPs, raising limpers. Instead of completing/folding AJo vs a CO and BTN limper, raising it up. You know.

Ugignadl · 06-04-2008, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfustsh

It is my opinion that limp-reraising with a big hand from the SB is a horrible play and offering it as general advice is just shitty. It is the kind of play that should only be done against a habitual positional raiser. Many, many players at low stakes are happy to check their option in the BB instead of raise, so limp reraising is bad advice to state generally.

I agree. Let me check out the article first before lambasting, however.

bigloser2448 · 06-11-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfustsh

It is my opinion that limp-reraising with a big hand from the SB is a horrible play and offering it as general advice is just shitty. It is the kind of play that should only be done against a habitual positional raiser. Many, many players at low stakes are happy to check their option in the BB instead of raise, so limp reraising is bad advice to state generally.

The author of the article prefaced this by stating that "Players in the big blind are trained to raise when I make this play (limping with a big hand from the SB)".

Without trying to read his mind, I'm sure he wouldn't suggest this if the player in the BB is more likely to just check.

I'm really torn on this one. I can certainly see both sides of the coin here.. I'm anxious to hear from the resident experts...

Ugignadl · 06-11-2008, 03:03 PM

I'm not such a fan. I prefer to be quite a bit tighter from the blinds and quite a bit looser from other positions compared to the usual wisdom.

06-03-2008, 07:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Randy Site Admin Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4,717	Playing the Blinds in Poker Playing The Blinds Following our series of leaning to Beating Small Stakes Poker. I thought you all might have some good input on this topic. This article covers playing the blinds in Poker. Playing the blinds for most players is just a nuisance and something they expect to lose money at. Over your poker lifetime it will probably prove true that you will lose money long term, we all know that poker is a game of small edges and margins. So, playing the blinds becomes less about losing money, and more about minimizing your losses and maximizing your gains. This articles covers: Playing the blinds in cash games Playing the small blind Playing the Big Blind heads up Playing the Small Blind after the flop Playing the Big Blind after the flop Here is the article: Playing The Blinds In Poker Let's get some discussion going __________________ Rakeback and Bonus Offers Poker Tutoring and Strategy

06-03-2008, 08:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
sfustsh Whale Hunter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rocking the micros Posts: 4,546	It is my opinion that limp-reraising with a big hand from the SB is a horrible play and offering it as general advice is just shitty. It is the kind of play that should only be done against a habitual positional raiser. Many, many players at low stakes are happy to check their option in the BB instead of raise, so limp reraising is bad advice to state generally. __________________ Carrera: fuck you as just above it means big bet. so again fuck off

06-03-2008, 11:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
sevens Grinder Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 808	Since I've been doing it a little more lately and I've had success with it, I'll bring up the point of raising light from the blinds after limpers. Things to consider: - What position they limped from - What type of player they are (aka, stats/reads/whatever) - If they like to play fit or fold, or if they are calling stations or not - Your hand The discussion on this idea can get pretty lengthy, but the concept I hinge this on is that it's much easier to play against extreme ranges (super nitty or super loose), and MP/LP limpers are weak almost all the time. This can be pretty costly unless your c-betting game is sharp. Know where you can do it and where you should probably just c/f. If your steal attempt failed - you raised KQs from the SB after 3 LP limpers and they all called - c/f unless you flop well. Be less willing to c-bet into more players, and very willing to c-bet against one. Be less willing to bet into players that are calling anyways, and be more willing to bet "obvious" flops. I mean A high and K high rainbow unconnected boards. But even with a hand like 55 and only one loose opponent, I'll still probably be c-betting a board with two overs, especially if one is an A or K. Loose passives are much easier to take advantage of, and the only disadvantage of being OOP against them when you're stealing from the blinds is that it will cost you a c-bet to find out if they actually flopped something. In the long run though, I can see this being profitable. edit: Just so there's no confusion, I'm not talking about raising junk. I'm talking about opening up a little more than you usually would. Instead of completing with middle PPs, raising limpers. Instead of completing/folding AJo vs a CO and BTN limper, raising it up. You know. __________________ sevens' blog The adventures of a micro-grinder! Updated 8/20 "Stake Update - Day 3" The basics of a solid TAG Game strat video "double gutshot" - twice as good as a single gutshot! Last edited by sevens; 06-03-2008 at 11:17 PM.

06-11-2008, 03:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ugignadl Drunken Aussie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Aussieland Posts: 7,706	I'm not such a fan. I prefer to be quite a bit tighter from the blinds and quite a bit looser from other positions compared to the usual wisdom. __________________ I have been blogging. Last updated April 29th. http://www.feltpoker.com/blogs/ugignadl/

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