[Surfbullet]

Blind stealing isn't necessary easier, but it is more important, and more profitable(because the rake is a smaller %-age and some players fold more). However, most of the players you want to be playing against are loose-passives who will call with nearly anything. This makes stealing less important since they wont fold, and value-betting more important.

For example: You raise with J8o on the button. 2 calls from the loosies in the blinds. You miss the flop, and bet to try and pick up the pot. One calls. You don't know if he's got bottom pair, no pair, a gutshot, whatever, but he's calling. Your hand has no showdown value and you only have 1 more card to spike a pair.

Another example: you raise 22 on the button. 2 calls from loosies in the blinds. You miss the flop, and bet to try and pick up the pot. One calls. You don't know if he's got bottom pair, no pair, a gutshot, whatever, but he's calling. You can bet the turn, you may pick up the pot, he'll often call with a no-pair drawing hand (be it overcards or whatever), and you can check thruogh the river. You will often win this pot by A). folding out a worse hand on the turn B). winning at SD when he misses his draw, however weak or strong it was.

Surf