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PROFITABLE POKER: Limit Hold'em Tips In Defending Your Blinds From Habitual Stealers
Poker prop article posted November 17th, 2006Part One - Defending the Big Blind
Everyone knows that not defending your blinds enough, can easily turn a profitable poker player, into a break even one at best. This is because we are paying out so much every time that button goes around the table, that even a solid poker player can struggle to make a profit, unless he learns to defend the money he has been forced into placing into the pot.
When playing lower limit poker for the most part, blind defense isn't something that you need worry about, since many of the flops end up being multi-way (3 or more people in the pot).
However now and then (and much more often in shorthanded games) you are going to be faced with an open raise from the cut off player (the player seated two seats to the right of the small blind) or the button player (the player seated to the immediate right of the small blind). In these situations, you will find yourself with the option to either bite back in defense of your blinds, or hand over the money to the blind thief who is trying to steal them!
So here are some tips on how to go about defending your big blind more aggressively. Since blind defense is so much more than simply "finding more hands to call with," I will detail the kind of characteristics your blind stealing opponents will likely have, and some effective methods for combating their attack.
Defending Verses Aggressive Post flop Opponents
This is the kind of player who will bet/or raise the flop, rather than check or call it. If he is in the pot, he is usually the one trying to take control, by using his chips to push around his opponents.
Pre flop: This player is going to be doing a lot more semi-bluff/bluff betting post flop. So because of this, you need to be defending with any hand that has showdown value such as any pair, any ace, any King down to K7. You want hands that could go to the river and win unimproved in a heads up pot.
Also, you need to try and take the wind out of his sails a little bit. Most players, even the most aggressive ones, tend to slow down post flop when they have been faced with a 3-bet raise pre flop. So re-raise with hands such as A7x, K9x, and even your pocket twos (provided that you feel comfortable playing these hands post flop).
With your drawing hands, such as 98s or T9o, simply call pre flop as you will likely need to improve your hand in an attempt to win the pot. Especially since aggressive players are going to make you pay to see the river.
Post flop: Verses aggressive players, you can actually open up your defense hand range to include any face off suited hand (such as Qh3d or Jc5s).
Typically, if you held a hand such as Js4h, and you felt that there was a chance that you could be out-kickered by your opponent, you would normally need 5 to 1 odds for your pre flop to be correct. However, verses players who are aggressive post flop, you can use their aggressiveness for your own gain. Next time you hold a face off suit trash hand, if you are getting at least 3 to 1 odds on your call, you should specifically call with that hand when facing a steal from a player who is aggressive post flop.
Here is why this unprofitable play, can be profitable, against an aggressive player. If you check to him, he is very likely to bet out the flop. This makes it easy for you to check raise him anytime you pair up with the board. You see, because of their aggressive nature, they are almost guaranteed to give you the extra bet on the flop (and either call your check/raise, giving you two extra bets, or fold giving you the pot!). Remember, even if you catch bottom pair heads up, you have a strong hand since your opponent is more likely to have missed the board themselves (in hold em you will connect with the flop around one third of the time).
So, the way to combat this type of opponent post flop is to call down your marginal hands, (thus losing less when you could possibly be behind), and raise your strong hands (using the check raise to extract the most value).
Defending Verses Passive post flop Opponents
This is the kind of person who is hoping to take the pot pre flop. Usually they tend check/call or bet/call on the flop, and won't show aggression even with a relatively solid hand such as top pair. They also may tend to be inexperienced in the habit of stealing pots, and are hoping that their pre flop raise will be enough to make you fold. If they are called, they instantly revert back to check/calling mode.
Pre flop: Verses this kind of player I would play a much more aggressive pre flop game, 3-bet defending with suited connectors down to as low as 76s. This is because I know that the 3-bet pre flop will be enough to scare them into allowing me to easily take back control of the pot. You need to be popping any Kx and pretty much any hand you feel comfortable enough to defend with. You don't need a hand with showdown value here. You simply need a hand that you would feel comfortable calling a steal raise with.
Post flop: Press your marginal hands for value, but take care. If they are a solid player post flop (i.e., they don't chase with poor hands), then you will need to improve on the turn if they call your flop bet (especially if this is after they have seen you 3-bet pre flop and still haven't folded on the flop).
Defending Verses Non-Chasing post flop Opponents
This is the type of opponent who tends to fold the flop or turn too much for one bet.
Pre flop: These opponents are actually the easiest to defend your big blind against. Simply apply a 3-bet reraise pre flop with a wider range of your hands (any face suited hand like J6s or low suited connectors down to 65s).
What you are trying to do pre flop, is show a massive show of strength. You then follow that up with an auto bet on the flop. Against this kind of tight post flop player this will usually be enough to win you the pot. If this doesn't make them fold, it is because they likely have a rather strong hand or draw.
However, with your very strong pre flop hands (such as AA, KK and so on), call their raise. This will invite them to stay in the pot with you post flop and allow you to extract more money. However, be aware of going to far with this ruse, else your game becomes predictable. Even the most obtuse of poker playing minds will notice that every time you simply call a steal raise, you always seem to have a big pocket pair.
Post flop: You need to be much more aggressive pre flop, so that your auto-bet on the flop really scares them. However, if your opponent still decides to see the turn or river after all of that (and there doesn't seem to be any possible straight or flush draws evident on the board) it is because they likely hold a decent hand, and you need to re-assess whether or not your hand is strong enough to showdown.
Defending Verses Chasing post flop Opponents
This is the kind of player who will see the river card a lot, and more often than not go to the river with a lot of poor hands.
Pre flop: Against this kind of player, never slow play your strongest hands. Simply 3 bet your strong hands, such as AA or KK. Since they are likely to pay you off, even when you show unrelenting strength, there is no need to disguise the strength of your most strong hands anyway.
Also, this kind of player is likely to pay off your draws post flop, since they are nearly always going to call down hoping to improve. So I would feel comfortable defending with very marginal hands such as nine seven suited97s or T8o, looking to connect with the flop.
Post flop: Against this kind of opponent, you are going to need to connect with the board. Any pair on the flop, is a solid enough hand for you to take control of the flop with a bet, if you intend to play further. So if you catch any kind of pair (bottom pair or top pair), get in there and start betting. Its very likely that they have missed, and with their chasing nature, they are going to pay you off when they are behind.
Also, never slow play verses this opponent. Whether you hit a flush, a straight, trips, two pair, a draw... it doesn't matter. Bet out. He is going to follow you to the river, so way risk losing out on extra bets on the flop? Fast play your made hands, and don't give him any free cards.
Hopefully this article has helped you to start thinking about opening up your big blind defense by getting more aggressive with a wider range of hands. In part two of PROFITABLE POKER: Limit Hold'em Tips In Defending Your Blinds From Habitual Stealers , I will be discussing how to defend your small blind. Due to the higher price you'd have to pay when trying to defend your small blind (compared to your big blind), you have to play a much tighter game when faced with a raise. So until then...
Poker prop article written by N1ghtowl
The above poker prop article was posted on November 17th, 2006. If you have questions about Mad Poker Props or poker propping please contact us.