when blinds go HU in 6MAX

I have noticed an area of my game in 6max that needs definite improvement: when it's folded around from UTG through the button and only the blinds are left. While this isn't obviously a huge part of the game, I think the nature of 6MAX puts you in this position much more often than full ring. Here are the scenarios that I see happening a lot:

Small Blind options:

1. Fold
2. Complete SB
3. Raise Min
4. Raise Bigger (standard or higher)

Big Blind Options:

5. Fold, if SB raises
6. Check, if SB is completed
7. Raise, if SB is completed
8. Reraise, if SB raises

I'd like to hear some general approaches to blind on blind play in 6MAX that you guys use. If you want to talk about a specific situation that I have identified above, please refer to the number assigned to it so that it's clear what situation you're talking about.

To get some discussion rolling, here is one sitation: when you are in SB and have Ax (suited or not). Lately I have been completing the SB (#2) when in this situation, and then just leading out on the flop OOP whether an Ace spikes or not. If called and I don't hit my A, I generally go into checkdown/fold mode, probably because I hate playing OOP like that. What other alternatives could I take? I think you have to bet here because you don't want the BB of 83o hitting on the turn or the river when you're ahead like that, but if he calls frmo BB, it's usually a decent draw or at least a piece. I think a lot of opponents will call down with as low as bottom pair or even ace high.

I will almost always raise Ax suited from the SB if it's folded to me. It's probably the best hand and you want to get more money in. If my opponent was an absolute calling station I might limp in more often than not because I don't want to play a big pot with it out of position.

In general, I will fold all garbage hands if folded to me in the SB. I will limp with speculative hands like suited connectors and such, and small pairs as well. I'll raise my medium pairs up and my strong aces as well as KT+, etc. I will c-bet most flops, but I'm not going to play a big pot without at least two pair against most opponents.

In the BB if the small blind limps I will raise with all good hands that I would raise with from the SB. I am more apt to raise from the BB since I am the aggressor and I am in position.

And as a rule of thumb, don't go broke in an unraised pot.

It doesn't really matter much how you play in these situations. I used to either raise or fold when it was folded to me in the small blind, but after a while it started to seem that this was only marginally profitable. My default play is just to limp and occasionally raise with decent hands (most pairs, good overcards, strong aces), unless the big blind is particularly aggressive, in which case I usually either raise or fold. I'll often bet when I flop a pair or better, or draw, but occasionally check.

Completing good. Many people will take a flop and building a pot pre-flop will just give them incentive to spew at you from position.

If they're the rare breed of player who plays well but too tight outside of spots like this, folding a lot is probably best.

I think the key to these spots is stealing on the cheap against really weak players and letting stronger players over-play their hand.

i like check raising with air for a later set up when i limp in with a real hand or make a real hand post flop.

Originally Posted by Fnord

I think the key to these spots is stealing on the cheap against really weak players and letting stronger players over-play their hand.

yes, i was looking for a statement like this to come out, so thanks. it's obvious once you read it, but i think this should go a long way. i'll keep it in mind as a starting point and work my way through each individual sitation from there.

one observation i made about this spot from this weekend: when you have a very aggressive opponent to your left (in the BB when you're SB), i think it's a good setup to complete and fold to 3-4 PF raises from him so that when you do get a hand, he's more than willing to keep on firing barrels. for the low, low cost of 1.5-2 BBs, you can easily setup a hyper aggro for a big score when he keeps up the agression into your monster.