Defending the blinds...

[Laeelin]

My game has changed a lot lately... I used to play weak when it came to defending my blinds, but now I call with a wide range of hands if I'm not short stacked....

*NOTE: this is in fishy tournies, aka, players I think I can outplay on the flop*

For example:
If I have a 4k stack with 50/100 blinds and the button raises 3xBB and I'm the BB with J7o .. I'm probally seeing a flop.

I know this is the right move against the SB, but I'm not so sure when it's the CO/Button because of the fact that I'm playing OOP.

Thoughts?

[nickthefool]

i think it all depends on how big your post flop edge is really

[ripjohngotti]

No im not calling a raise with j/7 os to a blind steal. They can have it.

[midas06]

Any 2

[ripjohngotti]

No way is calling with j/7 os from the BB to a raise profitable.

Its borders retardation

[mcatdog]

No way is calling with j/7 os from the BB to a raise profitable.

Its borders retardation

Where the heck did this come from? No need to be hostile.

Anyway, early in a tournament when I have 50 BB or more, I definitely don't defend my blinds much at all, because when the blinds are that small a portion of my stack, I don't really care if someone else takes them. If a blind stealer is really getting out of line, I don't call them, I re-raise them.

I see where you're coming from though, playing lots of small pots against bad players seems like a great way to get chips. What's your plan when you call a raise with a junk hand like J70? Are you only going to continue if you hit the flop, or are you planning to try to take the pot away from him most of the time even if you miss?

[Laeelin]

I'm planning on taking the pot away from him when he misses...

This has nothing to do with my cards.

[drmcboy]

it makes a lot more sense to call with position than without it.

if your cards don't matter, why did you bring up J7o? Does the move change with 23o? wide range does not equal any two.

[gabe]

theres a time when blinds need to be defended, but theres also plenty of times where just preserving your stack size is good too

[chardrian]

My game has changed a lot lately... I used to play weak when it came to defending my blinds, but now I call with a wide range of hands if I'm not short stacked....

*NOTE: this is in fishy tournies, aka, players I think I can outplay on the flop*

For example:
If I have a 4k stack with 50/100 blinds and the button raises 3xBB and I'm the BB with J7o .. I'm probally seeing a flop.

I know this is the right move against the SB, but I'm not so sure when it's the CO/Button because of the fact that I'm playing OOP.

Thoughts?

You need to be pretty sure that the CO/Button will actually fold when you bet the flop to make this move.

My concern is the part I bolded. In my opinion, I don't generally "outplay" fish - I just value bet them to death. To me "outplay" implies betting or raising (perhaps with nothing) against a good player who actually can fold a hand - fish don't fold, they call.

[zenbitz]

So, you have to call 2BB to win 4.5, right? So, you clearly have odds to call, but you are out of position.

Ignoring the times you flop 2 pair or better...
You are going to hit 1/3 of the time and so will he. You lead every flop for 4 BB with no A and at least 2 suits (or 3 if you have the one of the 4th).

So:
2/3rd of the time you win 6.5BB
1/6th of the time you lose 6BB (2+4 flop bet - you fold if re-raised or if he calls)
1/6th of the time you both hit... you are in it for at least 6... but you probably have on the order of 5 outs. Let's say you lose 10BB on average.

So, this play is worht about +1.74 BB ASSUMING you don't get stacked more often than you stack him!

I think this is a fine play
1) if 1.74 BB is worth it
or
2) the player is weak
or
3) you really CAN outplay on the flop, not just "think you can".