Stealing the blinds

tom.hunter · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 07:13 AM

Hi

Im watching some good poker videos and this guy has said a few things i dont get he is playing $30-$60 limit holdem shorthanded (2 other players)

Can you steal the blinds in any position?

I thought you could if you were simply the last player left but this guy notices the button limps in, calling on the button and then goes on to say:

"often if a player limps on the button, it means they have aces (wtf how?) because pretty much might aswell raise with anything if your on the button, if your gonna enter the pot might aswell enter with a raise see if you can steal the blinds"

There was an instance he has 2d-3d he has posted the big blind and says to begin with
"2 and 3 of diamonds thats actually a pretty bad hand in a short handed game"

So i think ok he obviously means its a drawing hand and he would want more people to put money into the pot with a drawing hand so if he does actually make it he is gonna get paid off well.

But then seemingly in contrast to what i thought he says

1 guy folds he calls and says "thats ok since its only 1 other player" now i would have thoyught his situation just got worse the implied odds did since his drawing hand will now make him less money if it comes through for him potentially.

Unless the fact its just 2 players increases his chances enough to offset the decrease to the pot odds of winning the alread $135 pot maybe?

Cheers, im probably just being dumb but im certainly

Marm · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 02:34 PM

Have you been playing the play money tables?

Now when you go play the micros, the play will be similarly bad.

Your basically asking how to draft at high speeds when you have yet to learn to work the stick shift.

POker is a game of fundamentals. Learn these, then attack the more complicated stuff.

You are also referring to a SH 30/60 game. Back to my racing kick, thats like trying to apply advice on handling turn 3 at Darlington to getting around your block at home.

tom.hunter · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 06:45 AM

yeah thats what i thought after wards, run before i can walk

Jen-Jen The Enjen · #4 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 12:55 AM

Stealing blinds would work if people folded. No one folds in the cheap games before the flop unless you raise really big. I-not-no-good at numbers but that has to be -EV. (See, I'm learning the "lingo." YAY-YAY Jen-Jen!)

Av8tor009 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 01:02 AM

blind stealing is only effective in higher-stakes cash games and the mid-late stages of tournaments... other than that it isnt worth it

JoeySea · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 04:59 PM

Speaking from experience playing limit games...stealing blinds is really difficult. Limit is different in the sense that you cannot scare off players as easily in limit. If you are trying to steal the blinds in a no limit game, you can simply raise half of their stack and that should be enough to make them fold. In limit poker..you can only raise so much..considering the other players pot odds (how much he has already entered in the pot) he may call you just because he has already contributed a large amount of chips to the pot. Just something to take into consideration.

Also there are times when players just call on the button with strong hands to be deceptive. It is called slow playing.