#1
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Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
I (like to think that) I am a tight aggressive player and I have recently begun playing low limit, short-handed games on Planet Poker (generally 4-5 handed). When I say "tight", I mean that I have adjusted my starting standards to the shorthanded game to the best of my abilities, but I am still usually the tightest player at the table. As for aggressiveness, depending on whether or not I am first in, I come in for a raise maybe half the time (or better?!). And I am aggressive (but NOT recklessly so) after the flop. I possess about 30-40 poker books (all the big ones less the latest edition of Mike Caro's Tells), and have found short-handed information only in S&M HFAP 21st Century and John Feeney's (awesome) Inside the Poker Mind. (My copy of McEvoy's Championship Holdem is loaned out--I don't remember if there is shorthanded info in it?) Currently, my biggest dilemma is when I should defend my blinds. I tend to play very tightly in these games and USUALLY it serves me quite well. Most of the players are totally unobservent and non-aggressive. (God I love these games!) Naturally, there are two classes of opponents that I have verying degrees of trouble with. These are: 1. Tough, observent players 2. Overly aggressive (and sometimes poor) players. Let me start by explaining my baseline blind-defending hands. If myself (in the BB) and the raiser are the only two remaining (and depending on where the raise came from), I will call with i.e. Ax, K9o, Kxs, T9o, 87s, any pair (as minimums). I reraise with only solid hands. ***** Against a raiser & one or more callers, I add many suited cards, but not much in the way of more unsuited cards. *****Should I be calling hands such as 97o, Qx, etc.? Of course, against some players, I can toss even certain of the aformentioned hands(as they only raise when they have something good...), but I mean against average players... Taking the "overly aggressive" class next...I will reraise them much more often (especially when they raise from the button or SB) , but I do not extend my calling hands by much. The problem I have here is that if I don't flop anything (usually the case!), I feel I need to fold (...hands that I don't currently play). Is this a major flaw in my game? And on to the tough players...They, of course, notice my tightness and will raise my blind more often, BUT NOT INDISCRIMINATELY. I don't feel that I can reraise much more often. And these same players tend to outplay me after the flop. Am I correct to just generally give in and fold against these players, avoiding them as much as possible? If there are two of these types in the game, I will leave. Fortunately, the majority of players at the limits I play give their money away even to mediocre players such as myself. Don't get me wrong--I'm fairly adept at a full ring game and have spent my last couple years studying the game intensively. But my tight ring game style is in for some major adjustment with this shorthanded bit! |
#2
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Re: Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
This is a part of my own game I have trouble with. However, in your post I hear no mention of position! You can defend much more liberally against only the SB then against a normal steal. (Even though the pot is a tad smaller) since you have position on him for the rest of the hand. Something you can do against the tough players is to throw in a reraise with a hand that really doesn't warrant it, say, 87s, just to get them to leave your blind alone more often. This way the cannot peg you to a hand as accurately if you reraise them in the BB. Just some hints. Sincerely, Andreas |
#3
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Re: Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
im just guessing from your post but i think you are not really tight aggressive. you may be defending your blind too much when they have a hand and not just a steal. you are not reraising often enough. and you are definetly not bringing it in with a raise often enough. then after the flop alot more often you need to just call them down or find a way to win without a showdown. remember that 4 and 5 handed are more different than 8 or 9 handed. good luck. |
#4
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Re: Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
My post was getting a little long, so did omit positional considerations. But I do pay attention to these things. I also VERY occaisionally throw in a reraise on a weaker hand. |
#5
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Re: Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
ThanX Ray! In a 4 or 5 handed game, how do you tell whether or not they are on a steal? You can "steal" from practically anywhere. And what do you consider as a steal raise? Is i.e. A8o a steal raise shorthanded? What hands should you defend your blinds with against a legitamte raise and against a steal raise? Yes, I know you adjust according to your opponents, but like S&M say in HFAP, you need a baseline with which to work. Also, where can I find more information relating to this subject? |
#6
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Re: Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
In 5 handed play I'd be careful against who you defend your blind against with Ax and Kx for x small. Against somebody who will attempt steals with a really wide range of hands x can be pretty small but if the stealer is likely to have an ace, a king, or a pair your hand is hard to win any money with. Additionally be less likely to call with those hands if the player is fairly good after the flop. I think Qx and Jx are typically fairly weak hands because they have such little showdown chance. Again it depends on how you opponent plays post flop, but generally I want something more to go with my jack or queen. |
#7
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Re: Shorthanded: Defending Blinds
new edition of hfap has good shorthanded stuff. a steal raise is any raise you suspect because of your reads, or from a position that player would raise from to rob the blinds. against a legit hand i would want to play from the blinds almost as tight as in a ring game. and to repeat. 4 handed is diffent from 5 handed. |
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