Blind defense with medium pocket pair

olavfo · #1 03-10-2005, 04:46 AM

I've found that aggressively (and successfully) defending the blinds a couple of times will mostly stop steal attempts at 0.50/1, so I'm trying to do this early in a game when I can.

I prefer reraising to calling, since I want it to hurt. I'll typically go as low as any two offsuit cards tens or better, but in this hand I fired a reraise with a medium pocket pair.

Only a couple of orbits played, so no reads but villain hesitated just long enough before raising for me to put him on a steal (I've found this kind of pausing to be a reliable tell).

Paradise Poker 0.50/1 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
7 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, Button caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets

Do you think this line is too aggressive? My reason for semi-bluff betting here is that villain will very probably fold if he was on a steal, and if he was not I can safely fold if he raises.

olavfo

Big Folder · #2 03-10-2005, 06:25 AM

doesn't that cap worry you? Or do you think villian is just trying to see who has bigger balls pf? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I like the play pf and now that I think about it you probably have to bet out. If he was on a steal and missed he'll most likely fold, but if you check he will bet out for sure and then you dont know where you stand, even if you c/r to freak him out or something. This seems like the best play for this situation.

jaxUp · #3 03-10-2005, 06:26 AM

well-played, although I don't think that you realize how strong 88 is here. It is very good HU against a possible steal.

Chris Daddy Cool · #4 03-10-2005, 06:31 AM

chris likes.

olavfo · #5 03-10-2005, 07:32 AM

I often see steal-raisers capping in order keep the bluff up, so I'm not all that worried, when I see it.

olavfo

olavfo · #6 03-10-2005, 07:35 AM

Short-handed play and HU are the biggest holes in my poker knowledge. But I'm working on it. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

olavfo