Stealing Blinds

[milkmanra2]

When late in a multi what are good hands for stealing blinds vs hands that u shouldnt try to steal with is there a diff? does it matter ? and i dont mean monsters thats not stealing.

[chardrian]

Stealing = raising preflop with a hand you normally wouldn't play to take down the blinds. If it's a true steal it doesn't matter what two cards you have.

In actual practice though - I actually like to steal with hands like one or two gappers that are both below T (e.g. 57) - if the steal works great, if it gets called these hands are either really easy to fold, or really easy to make a ton with.

To me, the problem steal hands are when you try to steal with marginal hands; e.g. AT or lower, J, Q, or Kx suited, or hands like TQ. The problem with these hands is that if they do get called and hit, it is often very hard to then lay them down but very easy to be dominated.

[STIdrivr]

Ya i try to stay away from stealing with an A K Q or even a J with a bad kicker. Better to do it with 2 low cards that are close to connecting, suited or both.

[baudib]

An example from my tournament the other day:

Blinds are 300/600 and table is tight. Folds to me (medium stack, 8,500) in mid-position. I raise to 1,500 with 8s 6s. BB (whom I have covered) calls.

Flop: Ks 6c 10s.

He checks to me -- easy push -- figuring him to push with almost any king or two spades.