Battle of the Blinds

**Mr.McJ** · 12-22-2006

Let's assume you're playing a full tabled ring game at an average table (not too loose, not too tight.) It's folded around to you in the SB and you look down to see a marginal holding (a small ace, small PP, 2 broadway cards.) You have no read on the BB at this point but from what you've seen he hasn't really gotten out of line at all.

Generally speaking, do you...

1> Raise
2> Call
3> Fold

Anytime I find myself in this situation I usually wind up taking the agressive approach, raising. The problem I keep running into is that the BB will call me with a VERY wide range of hands. Then when I inevitable miss the flop, I'm practically screwed since any half decent opponent should be able to take the hand away from me.

Is it still a good idea to raise PF since I'm getting more money in the pot when there's a good chance that I'm a (slight) favourite? Is it better to just try and see a cheap flop and then proceed from there?

**Yvraine** · 12-22-2006

Recently I've taken up minraising in this spot (the only time I ever minraise). I'm just posing a simple question to the big blind: "Do you really want to play those two random cards you got dealt?"

If the answer is "Meh, not really" at least as often as "Sure, let's go!" then it becomes worthwhile to do this with any two. You're putting in 1.5 bets to win 1.5 bets.

Of course, if he does call, then you're in the position of playing the two random cards you got dealt. So I like to fold the absolute worst hands - which also lets the BB know that I've got standards in the hands I'm raising him with. People tend to remember when the get handed chips for free (at least I do!) so you can do this with only, say, the bottom 10% and they'll perceive it as being more than that.

And of course, if he reraises you preflop, or if the flop and/or postflop betting is bad for you, then you can let it go with minimal losses.

**Loz** · 12-22-2006

If I am SB and everyone folds to me I don't see a reason to play with nothing in the pot.

I used to raise with Ax, 22+, etc but I did that a few weeks ago in a live game, hit my ace plus my other hole card on the turn and was up against trip 7s. I gave it some thought after losing money playing the aggressor and he was cold calling probably salivating.

After that I said to myself why bother. Now I play the SB like an early position hand if it is just me and the BB. That applies to ring games.

Mid to late tourney is a different story of course.

**lairyboy** · 12-22-2006

In ring games raising here has only ever got me in trouble. The BB calls a 3x or 4x raise with any high card or pair at the lower stakes, and when you bet out on the flop you either lose a big pot or win a small one. There is no money in the pot so I only raise with a hand that I would normally raise from EP or MP in an unopened pot. Limp with hands that I would raise from LP, cutoff or button, and fold all the rest.

EDIT: By raising here you are choosing to play a pot out of position, but by folding you can see another hand and be in the best position. Unless you are playing stakes that are too high for your bankroll then letting go of a small blind is nothing, so there is no reason to get involved.

**Eclipse86** · 12-22-2006

Originally Posted by Mr.McJ

Is it still a good idea to raise PF since I'm getting more money in the pot when there's a good chance that I'm a (slight) favourite? Is it better to just try and see a cheap flop and then proceed from there?

basically in these scenarios (folded to me in the sb). I would just raise anything I would raise in LP.

**Mr.McJ** · 12-22-2006

Originally Posted by Eclipse86

basically in these scenarios (folded to me in the sb). I would just raise anything I would raise in LP.

See I'm the same way but lately I find that the BB is just giving me too much action. It's like everyone will call from the BB with almost any 2 cards.

**Eclipse86** · 12-22-2006

Originally Posted by Mr.McJ

See I'm the same way but lately I find that the BB is just giving me too much action. It's like everyone will call from the BB with almost any 2 cards.

if thats the case, and ur flop cbs keep getting called as well.. u could always just switch tables or switch seats.

**WotaWaster** · 12-22-2006

Its true that people view SB vs BB raises as a steal.

I would personally never call SB into BB. If the SB ever calls into my BB I raise over 50% of my hands. This usually reuslts in a fold.

I would raise SB into BB with Ax (I may fold A3o or something vs good and/or loose opponent), any pair any suited conns. Basically any playable hand.

**tightagressive** · 12-22-2006

raise/fold every, single, time

**rebelutopian** · 01-03-2007

yvraine,
minraising from the sb is pretty awful. i think you are perhaps not realising what a huge advantage position is in NL holdem. if the hand goes to a flop, BB will have an incredible advantage and you will have to hit the flop pretty hard in order to stay involved. if i was in the bb and sb minraise i would call with literally any two cards and then you would get effed.

all,
this depends on how bb adjusts to agresssion. the first time it is folded to me in the sb, i will raise with a very wide range, all pps, all scs, and ace, and any two broadway cards. as long as he folds i will continue to raise such a wide range. as the game goes on, if he starts to adjust to those situations by defending his bb, i will tighten up and raise a smaller, more solid range.

eclipse,
i'm unsure why you are advocating leaving a table because there is a calling station there

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