Blind defense or spewing?
 

My blind defense has always sucked in limit poker. There are usually so many limpers that the situation rarely comes up, so I don't get much practice at it. After several hundred NL SnGs I've started paying a lot more attention to the blinds. Today the situation did come up, three times in short order.

I would have never defended blinds with weak aces in the past, but again, all those SnGs changed my mind.

Comments?

Hand 1. Villain is 18/7.4/2.36 over a lot of hands. He knows how to steal blinds.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">6 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO raises</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>.

Flop: (5 SB) A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO caps</font>, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets</font>, Hero calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets</font>, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.50 BB


Hand 2. Villain is unknown, just sat down.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">7 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises</font>, Hero calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, BB folds, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, Button folds.

Final Pot: 5.50 BB


Hand 3. Villain is 40/2.13.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">7 folds</font>, Button calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, Button calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls.

River: (5.25 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets</font>, Hero ?

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

I fold small Axo in the SB and BB to steal raises unless the player is getting very out of line with his steals. If I'm going to play Axs from the SB or BB I am 3-betting preflop.

I think you have to call the river in hand 3.

Also, I've mentioned this like 9million times but again, I think adding ASB%, Folded BB to Steal and Folded SB to Steal numbers to your HUD's popup is important for these situations.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

Hey what is ASB%? EDIT: Attempt to steal blinds? If so, how is that calculated -- if you know?

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

grunch

hand 1 &amp; 2 - don't play Acrap from the SB in a blind steal situation. If you are going to, which please don't, you need to hit the raise button.

hand 3 - I am happy you found the raise button finally [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img], why is it that the button only called preflop, is he a huge fish or is he playing sneakily? I hope you called the river how you played it, why did you decide to not pop it?

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hey what is ASB%? EDIT: Attempt to steal blinds? If so, how is that calculated -- if you know?

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm no authority on PT calculations or math in general, but I believe it just takes the times that it is foled to you in the CO or Button and makes a percentage from the times you raise or fold. It may or may not include the HJ.

This would help because someone with a 42% ASB is going to be more likely to be stealing than a guy with a 13% ASB who is probably just raising a premium hand.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

First, I am trying to learn blind defenses too, and I suck at it. First hand - well played. Hand 2 - I play it the same though I'm not sure it's right. The flop is perfect for you and I think your hand is good most of the time. Obviously, in this case villian's raise was to see if you were serious. I hate not 3-betting here, but would it be better to wait until the turn or river? Hand 3 - I would fold. The pot is small and I don't think you're good very often.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I fold small Axo in the SB and BB to steal raises unless the player is getting very out of line with his steals. If I'm going to play Axs from the SB or BB I am 3-betting preflop.

I think you have to call the river in hand 3.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, what he said.

I've had trouble in these spots too. Since adopting a 3-bet or fold mantra it has been better. I usually ditch the A-rags here and sometimes reraise A9+ to a possible steal (depending on who the raiser is). If I reraise, then bet a flopped A and get raised, I've found it's usually best to fold the turn UI against most players.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

I'm not 100% sure I would have defended in hands #1 and #2, but if I did I would probably raise to get the BB out.

I tend to call the river in hand #3 but I think it's a leak. They usually have a weak pair.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hey what is ASB%? EDIT: Attempt to steal blinds? If so, how is that calculated -- if you know?

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm no authority on PT calculations or math in general, but I believe it just takes the times that it is foled to you in the CO or Button and makes a percentage from the times you raise or fold. It may or may not include the HJ.

This would help because someone with a 42% ASB is going to be more likely to be stealing than a guy with a 13% ASB who is probably just raising a premium hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad you posted it again, I missed the first bizillion times. I'll add it to my HUD tonight. Seems obvious, I should've thought of it myself.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

*grunch*

Hand 1:

Hero needs to reraise PF to isolate BB. Show him that you ain't getting pushed around

Flop: Call CO's bet, don't 3-bet it, it's excessive

Turn: Nice, now you have a gutshot and the 3 3's as outs. Even possible Ace outs. Calling is good

River: Fold, possible flush completed, you have pair of Ace 8 kicker. His bet on the river means he wants you to call.

Hand 2:

Fold preflop. I like the flop. Good job.

Hand 3: Fold river, everything else was well done.

Edit: On further consideration, I like hand 1's 3-bet. I would still fold at the river.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

*grunch*
Hand 1. looks good to me. It's always hard to determin if a player is on a steal raise or not.
Hand 2. On flop I think it's good. If capped fold on turn.
Hand 3. No! I don't think it's good to raise this OOP. I would fold the river. He is trying to represent queens but I don't buy it (but if he has them you are still beaten). He probably has something like pair OR the flush and he was on check/call line.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

grunch
I'm absolutely not expert on this, but I'm currently playing prima 1/2 and it's a constant blind war.
1/ I'd 3-bet to make sure BB doesn't come along. Then:
b/c
c/c
b/f (or if he's tricky, c/c)
2/ I'd fold it's not wirth it from SB
3/ Just call pf, then
c/c
c/f

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I fold small Axo in the SB and BB to steal raises unless the player is getting very out of line with his steals. If I'm going to play Axs from the SB or BB I am 3-betting preflop.

[/ QUOTE ]


This is good advice.


Guthrie: I think I c/r every one of those flops.

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Guthrie: I think I c/r every one of those flops.

[/ QUOTE ]

Except Hand 3. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Blind defense or spewing?
 

Hand 1 I 3bet from SB if raiser is steal happy, hand 2 I generally don't play unless I think I can outplay opponent after the flop. Hand 1 I'd lead the flop if I was the last aggressor preflop, if shown aggression I'm just calling down, as he's generally not going to call raises with a lot of hands I beat, but he'll keep betting a weaker hand if shown no aggression, thinking I'm scared of the ace.

Same thing with hand 2. I just don't think he's calling down with weaker hands so I don't see the value of the 3bet, except to drive someone off a possible split, but with the size of the pot, does it matter much?

Hand 3 I bet/fold the river.