I wonder the best way to play in this situation, there are 4 of you left (3 places pay) and you all have roughly equal stacks, the blinds are not big enough to threaten anyone yet.

Say you get a hand like AT and make a 2xBB raise, one of the blinds calls and you miss the flop, now what?

You don't want to commit too much to a feeler bet as if it gets called or re-raised you risk becoming the shortie but you also can't check as your opponent will bet and your screwed!

In the above situation should the initial raise be more than 2xBB to discourage the call from the blinds, if so then what do you do if it is still called?

What if you are in this situation for a while and get no cards at all, the best you get is K2 or T4, or maybe the occasional 56, do you start making blind steals with these trash hands as otherwise you'll be blinded out or do you continue to hope for a better oportunity.

Say that you have rubbish hands (similar to above) everytime it's your blind someone (not always same person) puts in a 2xBB raise, do you have to make a call occasionally to try and defend the blinds or just let them go if you have trash?

If you decide to call do you then have to bet the flop no matter what, and if you do what if your opponent then comes back over?

Also, is there any tips or tells to look out for when playing in this type of situation, I can never tell if someone has the goods or is just bluffing at it. Twice last night I was in a situation where I had a marginal hand on the flop and people would come over the top of my bet or re-re-raise my re-raise. No matter what moves I made they always tucked me up. I know I am getting out played but don't know how to beat it.

I don't think you can play push/fold, especially if you aren't really getting any decent cards.

If there are 4 of you all with about 4000 and the blinds are 100/200 and you push your 4000 chips in that looks weak and you might get a call from A-rag etc, which you don't want if your stealing with 89 or something.

I like what your saying tightagressive about any sort of favourable flop is an all-in, which is fine if it is checked to you, but remember, if your stealing the blinds and you get a call then your opponent is going to act first. What do you do in those same situations if there is a bet from the pre-flop caller?

Ok, if you want some really good discussion about blind stealing on the bubble in SNGs, check this out:

http://www.stealtheblinds.net/2006/0...nded-sng-play/

Originally Posted by Lamby100

I don't think you can play push/fold, especially if you aren't really getting any decent cards.

then you will not be a winning sng player at limits above $33 (imo)

Lamby, your blind stealing raises MUST MUST MUST be more than 2x. Otherwise, you're just making a bigger pot. You want that money and you want that money now so bet at least 4x. Also, do not wait until you're the button or CO every time. People will pick up on it fast. Also, do not wait for great hands to try and steal...you'll find that you won't be stealing much.


EDIT: Lamby, bud, you're playing too tight. If you don't want someone scooping on your blinds and you think that's all they're doing, re-raise them. If they actually GOT IT, shut down on the flop unless you can connect. If you a big PP and someone goes to steal your blinds...stop-and-go their ass. Call PF, push flop regardless of what's on the board.

I would never call a raise from a blind pre-flop with 25o but I would pop it back up every now and then to show they need to stop fucking with me.

And for your situational tells thing...just push it. If you hit in any part of the flop, push it. While it could bust you, it could also tell you if they're just outplaying you. If they raise and re-raise mid. or bottom pair and then have to decide if they're going broke with that hand...you'll take it.

Tight, I think the situation you have posted is an obvious push, even if you get called by a big ace you are still only a 60/40 dog, I believe, and the amount of times you are not called clearly makes up for the 20% gap. I realise that is a sensible play but I think the problem for me comes when everyone has a standard stack.

In that situation you can't push 4000 to win 300 in blinds and I'm never quite sure how to play it if I get called and miss.

I think from previous comments that the 2xBB is where I'm going wrong, I guess it needs to be nearer 5xBB to scare people out. i.e if the blinds are 100/200 instead of going to 600 as I was, I think I'll go for 800 or 1000.

Thanks for teh help guys.

P.S. Thanks for the link Jason, good article!