Why do people tend to play very loose from the big blind position in a Limit Holdem tournament or cash game (I am ONLY referring to tables that are full or close to full, 7 to 10 people)?
I keep seeing this over and over in various situations, so I began to wonder if I was missing something.<READMORE>
My goal when I started thinking about this question was to find out the pros and cons of defending your Big Blind (BB) and calling when faced with a single raise in a limit game. I wanted to use basic logical reasoning without in depth calculations (for those, there are lots of books out there). So I thought I would share my ideas and I came up with the following:
PROS-
1) It is a good idea to play back at a raise sometimes to try and prevent people from picking on you. I know that I will often open for a raise with lesser holdings against someone that I know has a tendency to fold to a single raise in the BB.
2) You are usually getting decent pot odds to make the call. Obviously, the more people in the single raised pot, the better your pot odds.
a. Example- Bob is holding Js9s in the BB and post $2, Seat 4 raises to $4, Seats 6 & 7 call and the Small Blind (SB) folds. Pot contains $15 and it costs Bob $2 more to call. He is being offered 7.5 to 1 odds (not bad) with a decent drawing hand.
3) A loose image can often pay off big if used correctly. A few instances where this may occur:
a. If someone thinks you are willing to call any pre-flop raise from the BB, they may think twice before raising with mediocre hands when you are in this position.
b. If a good player has pegged you as a ‘calling station’ he will be less likely to try and bluff at you and more likely to give you some credit for a hand when you decide to bet/raise after the flop.
c. Opponents will have a harder time putting you on a hand if you always smooth call (no raises) when facing a raise in this position regardless of whether you have AA or 56.
CONS-
1) First and foremost, YOU ARE OUT OF POSITION. Ask yourself the question, “would I play this from Under the Gun (UTG)?” Once you make the call, you are first to act with the raiser and any callers to act behind you. It can essentially be compared to limping from UTG even though you already know that someone is representing a big hand behind you.
2) If you don’t hit a monster flop, you are usually forced to simply check/fold. Now you have lost two BB bets instead of just one. Yes, your opponent is most likely going to be making an automatic continuation bet after you check, but can you really call him with K or Q high or 2nd or 3rd pair? Obviously this can be dependent on the opponent, but regardless can be dangerous.
3) The good pot odds can be deceiving, especially in a tournament situation. Let’s go through a common tournament situation that I see to show you how the pot odds can reel you in but really hurt.
Bob (the average player) is in the big blind of a Multi-Table tournament. It is Limit Holdem and the blinds are 150/300, no antes. 52 people left and 30 people pay. Average stack is 3800 and Bob has 3300 before the hand.
He is dealt 7d 8d and it is folded to the tight/aggressive player with 8K in his stack. He raises from the cutoff and it folds to Bob. The pot contains 1050 (his 300 + the SB’s 150 + the raisers 600) and it cost him 300 to call. Giving him 3.5 to 1 to call. Based on his read up to this point, Bob can safely assume that his opponent either has two big cards or a decent sized pocket pair.
Many would argue that these odds say he should probably call, but then Bob remembers my first two CONS—“I’m out of position and I will need to hit a big hand. Also, I am only slightly below average and I have time to be patient and wait for a better spot. Hmmmmmm?”
“But I’m getting 3.5 to 1 with my suited connectors! Okay, okay” Bob decides to call and see a flop. FLOP- Ac Qd 2d--- Now he is faced with drawing at the pot and how to play his draw. Bob now thinks about his opponents holdings (A x?, K Q?, A Q?, or even Ad xd?) and he decides his opponent has hit something. Bob decides not to bet out with his draw expecting the automatic raise.
He checks and calls the 300 bet because the pot was offering him a strong 5.5 to 1 for his flush draw. The turn brings the 7c! Now Bob has more outs to ‘Improve’ his hand (only improve because none of his outs will give him the Nuts). Adding the two 7 cards and the three 8 cards left he now has 14 outs. He checks and his opponent bets. The pot odds are good once again. With 2450 now in the pot it costs Bob 600 to call. (We have all seen this when we draw at it, but never seems to happen when we are against someone else drawing it)---- The river brings a BLANK! Nothing! Nada! Bob doesn’t think a bluff would work here and check folds.
Now Bob has spent 55% of his stack instead of 9% of his stack if he folded pre-flop. He is short stacked and ends up busting out near the bubble. BUT, BUT, BUT- “The pot odds were there. I had to draw at it!” ------- (Then he goes to his favorite forum and posts: “I can’t ever catch a break. Why am I so unlucky? Wah, wah, wah! Blah, blah, blah!”
So now! What have I come up with in my conclusion? The same old thing: “poker is a game of situations” and there isn’t an answer to this question. Simply put! Every question regarding strategy for poker is dependent on far too many factors. There isn’t an answer to this question for every situation other than ‘it depends.’
I did come up with one other conclusion though- I need to slow down and look at each of these PROS and CONS , and the situation I am faced with before I decide to defend my BB with a marginal holding.
I also try to look for what others do with their blinds more. If the donkey defends with any two, I value bet with my big cards and I never try to steal from them with weak cards. Remember to stay creative and keep everyone thinking so I won’t know how to treat you when you are in the BB.
For what its worth,
beauright
</READMORE>
Limit Poker: Big blind defense with a call?[ return to main articles page ]
Comments
-
<p>I think is a good strategy to defend your BB. Is true that if in this position you have poor cards then a strong bet will sure blow you. What i need to know is how do you calculate the odds? 5.5 to 1 for example? What this numbers mean? Thanks!</p>
Return to Articles
Quick Navigation
-
-
Recent PocketFives Awards
-
AquariusAA
$100k
May 25th, 2013
-
-
jjyykk
Triple Crown
May 24th, 2013
-
810ofclubs
$3 million
May 23rd, 2013
-
Roothlus
$4 million
May 15th, 2013
-
Tweets from P5ers
mjw006
2013-05-26 03:29:43
RT @titan_poker: We salute "SharlieCheen" from Australia. He finished 2nd in the Friday $50,000 Guaranteed R/A and won $9,600. "elvinz" (Be…
4viffer
2013-05-26 03:27:14
@TexDolly way to rooot one in, ask bb how he liked getting the over time tonight!!!!!
4viffer
2013-05-26 03:26:47
RT @TrishelleC: “@matteo_ventura: @TrishelleC what are you doing in my hometown of Montreal?” Visiting my bf! I love it here :)
4viffer
2013-05-26 03:26:44
RT @TexDolly: Why does everybody think Memphis is going to blow the Spurs out tonight?#goDuncanParkerGinno
BryanMicon
2013-05-26 03:23:03
Micon 2013 WSOP Speedo: https://t.co/GqxjeS1aXw ~25% left to sell and @EricCrain hasn't fired. #fairwarning #dontgetshutout
JasonKoon
2013-05-26 03:17:03
Maybe the biggest day of the year tomorrow for online tournaments. Scoop Main and WSOP on Wednesday!!! I'm soooooooooooooooooooo pumped!
herschelwpwnage
2013-05-26 03:08:09
Crazy autograph by former Jags tight end Pete Mitchell. Definitely a must see! http://t.co/NrP8v8bXcT
Matthew_Waxman
2013-05-26 02:56:43
The Aria is looking extra flavorful tonight. #AppleBottomless
RGHall
2013-05-26 02:55:43
http://t.co/nMmDFRYUQn 8.3 quake is a pretty good one. CGF3M students note still no tsunami.
TWKftw
2013-05-26 02:54:42
@Jaybone2315 you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall.
subiime
2013-05-26 02:40:55
RT @EnaelGC: @subiime Joe can I get a RT since your appearence on wsop made me believe a 80/60 player is a shark! Aggresiveness pays off!
DColpoys23
2013-05-26 02:39:07
@nutsinho Yeah I guess I could have coached then as well... #washedup
RunGoodRussell
2013-05-26 02:39:07
RT @random_chu: @sam_you_are @RunGoodRussell please keep me posted on all flops including flush draws and potential backdoors @MrJesseJames…
TWKftw
2013-05-26 02:35:20
@Jaybone2315 been watching from the beginning #didyouorderthecodered
lindleyloo
2013-05-26 02:34:22
Luxor light literally highlighting the full moon #Vegas http://t.co/T9x3vs4vBy
DColpoys23
2013-05-26 02:30:53
@RealKidPoker @nutsinho Me next RIchy old pal?
g0lfa
2013-05-26 02:23:08
@RealKidPoker @stealthmunk a documentary or show of stealthmunk going through the choice center course would be the funniest shit ever.
scottfischman88
2013-05-26 02:21:44
if you DON'T have an iPhone AND we regularly keep in contact.... Install iMessage on Android for free now! http://t.co/UgMhyKWIsp #iMessage
constantcolorup
2013-05-26 02:03:10
@stealthmunk @realkidpoker get a room #twittertimeout
g0lfa
2013-05-26 01:59:42
RT @stealthmunk: I wish I could self-exclude from twitter. I think I know how @Adzizzy feels all the time on twitter. #bipolar #suicide #ws…
g0lfa
2013-05-26 01:58:44
RT @kawlisa: Enjoy every minute of this life because it's beautiful, and you don't know how much time you have.
Jymaster11
2013-05-26 01:49:49
RT @the_dean221: Nice job @ChinoRheem and @EdogPoker , good to know 1.5m will be going back into the poker economy. Bet it was a long lin…
Gags30poker
2013-05-26 01:42:44
@Firaldo87poker "dont ever do that again!" @dDeoxyribo "hehehehe" @Firaldo87poker "HE JUST PUT HIS FINGER IN MY ASS"
#huh #overheardconvos
BryanMicon
2013-05-26 01:41:16
RT @stealthmunk: Can someone arrange a pool wsop bet? ill bet on team #yearofscience vs #teamchoice @scott_seiver @dansmithholla @RealKidPo…
BryanMicon
2013-05-26 01:39:21
RT @stealthmunk: I'm berating everyone this WSOP. I'm going to laugh at peoples plays mid hand. Maybe even stone fish. IDC. I want people t…
herschelwpwnage
2013-05-26 01:33:54
Really cool article about a unique disease and a unique relationship. Worth a read. http://t.co/pxXicgKVNL
bankrollme87
2013-05-26 01:33:50
RT @ianohara2: Me and @bankrollme87 were just called "pros" because we are wearing shirts.
#pogs
TWKftw
2013-05-26 01:22:49
@lildickytweets youjizz on the tablet
MikeMcDonald89
2013-05-26 01:16:18
@RealKidPoker ya even @stealthmunk could win tournaments back in those days. Oh wait #Lobojiji
RealKidPoker
2013-05-26 01:10:39
Raise your hand if you've called concierge and had them send someone up to turn on the shower. #MyHandisRaised
BryanMicon
2013-05-26 01:03:33
Fuck yes @adamkokesh released, no charges --> http://t.co/DNmc443i1p #hackpolitics @FreeAdamKokesh The video made prossecution impossible
RunGoodRussell
2013-05-26 01:01:07
Big online day tomorrow pretty excited for it
BryanMicon
2013-05-26 01:00:28
So.... @AmandaBynes is the new @LinsayDeeLohan I guess. What can I get on her having a hot lezzy relationship in calendar 2013?
Jymaster11
2013-05-26 01:00:20
@ArgentinaBoy I don't think I've ever heard of a more withered bird
PoKerH0E69
2013-05-26 00:58:42
Busts 3rd in 3r lost to three ducks. Profit 4 today. Played ok today better 2 morrow go 4to1@FT $60 5k
PocketFives Rankings
| Player | PLB | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Legenden | 8,750 Points | |
2 |
cal42688 | 8,451 Points | |
3 |
p0cket00 | 7,713 Points | |
4 |
jdpc27 | 7,673 Points | |
5 |
T 54 T 97s | 7,456 Points |
| Country | Top 20 PLB |
P5s Members |
Prev Rank |
||
| 1 |  Canada |
126463 | 2393 | 1st | |
| 2 |  Mexico |
116923 | 271 | 2nd | |
| 3 |  United Kingdom |
115970 | 2485 | 3rd | |
| 4 |  Poland |
99410 | 365 | 4th | |
| 5 |  Brazil |
95516 | 1005 | 5th |
© 2013 PocketFives.com