Calling from the blinds

[minSim]

As all it's player and read dependent, but in general, if people are trying to steal your blinds pretty often (from CO or button), what are your calling and reraising standards?

I usually try to be very tight from the blinds and do the same in these situations. I'm probably loosing some value though by folding too much.

My standards to call from the blinds in these stealing attempts are;
Calling 45s+, 46s+, A7s+, maybe QJ.
Reraising with AJ+
and KJ, A9, A10 being rr/call.

So i.e. I fold A6-s, Kxs, A8- etc, about all non suited connectors, -gappers etc. Mostly because I think playing OOP is hard and expensive and you aren't getting paid of enough, especially with draws.

I sense I have some leak here, but if anyone could give some reasonable advice that would be very appreciated.

[benny999]

i am by no means very good at this, but still i know it depends on quite a bit.
here's a few questions that i think about...

do i want to play tag or lag?
were there any limpers, especially bad ones? did the sb call?
is the pfr predictable enough to outplay them oop? how will i outplay them with this hand (ie some sort of a plan)?

generally i think u may be playing too many SC oop though.

[Tom42]

You forgot Pocket Pairs. And I second benny999, you call to much with SC's and suited aces. They don't play good, because you're OOP and the implied odds aren't there. Preflopraisor isn't going to stack off usually, because his range is so wide. You don't need the nutz to win the pot.

I almost never call with them unless, the button or SB already called CO's raise for example. I will reraise them if circumstance are favorable, e.g. my image is tight, deep stacks, villain knows how to fold to a 3-bet,... . I just make sure my 3-betting range stays balanced.

In fact I don't call to much with any holdings in this situation, and if I call it's often with the intend of stealing the pot on the flop or turn, to mix up my play.

[Renton]

you are too loose. Start with calling something like 77-TT KQ AJ, reraising something like AQ+ JJ+ and occasionally 22-66. Then just expand on that basic range if you feel like you can play profitably.

[minSim]

Thx for the helpfull responses!

I see 2 things here:
1. playing draws OOP is too hard
2. implied odds are too less when raised from CO/button.
(hadn't thought about that one)

Especially the last one is very interesting. I auto called from the blinds with 22-66, but as implied odds aren't there, I think a fold or reraise could is a better play indeed.

So let's say theres an EP raise, is calling from the blinds any better with a SC, 22-66? implied odds are better I guess as raisers range is tighter.

What about Axs on the button against an EP raiser. Raisers range is probably tight and we are in position, but are the implied odds good enough? Or do we need at least 1 before us?

I know much depends on the players, table, image, etc...but I'm looking for some guidelines. Not just to have them, but to understand why these are generally good.

[Tom42]

So let's say theres an EP raise, is calling from the blinds any better with a SC, 22-66? implied odds are better I guess as raisers range is tighter.

Yes, call with 22-66. I usually don't call with SC's as a general play, you're still OOP. With pocket pairs this is less of a problem, because you hit the flop or not.

What about Axs on the button against an EP raiser. Raisers range is probably tight and we are in position, but are the implied odds good enough? Or do we need at least 1 before us?

I will often call with SC's and suited gappers on the button with no callers, but not with Axs. The raisoning here is, SC's have a bigger chance to a straight, two pair, and trips. An ace is a big part of opponents range.

With one or more callers Axs becomes more interesting because you can also get paid of by lower flushes, set's,... from the other callers.

Basicly you need more implied odds with Axs because you hit less.

PP>SC's>gappers>Axs