blind steals/defense

[siegfriedandroy]

***I just posted this in the general forum, but wanted it here as well, since I'm mainly interested in optimal strategy for blind defense/steals in higher level games, since those are the games I am gearing my game towards ultimately beating, as I move up levels. Also, I much respect some of the high stakes pros who post in this particular forum, and would love to hear some of their general thoughts on the issue as well. So here are my questions? Thanks and I would greatly appreciate any thoughtful, informative and quality responses.
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One observation I've made as a fairly new poster is that as you move up levels online, blind steals/defense seems to become a much more important issue. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about optimum strategy here!

I attempt to pattern my game after THFAP and SSHE. However, it seems these important texts have little or nothing to say about blind steals/defense. Why is that, considering that Sklansky's own site seems to see this as such a crucial part of the game?

Questions:

1) I feel that if I more or less follow Sklansky's preflop advice in SSHE, then I will be too tight in blind defense (since he recommends against raises only playing hands from SB that you'd play early against a raise, as well as not even playing hands like K-10, Q-10, A9 from BB against raises). Arent these recommendations way tighter than the ones winning players here would like to see as correct according to Pokertracker, etc.?

2) If in fact I am too tight in blind defense, what hands should I loosen up with from the SB and BB, respectively (and allow myself to depart from SSHE's guidelines?

3) What hands can I attempt to steal with? (that would depart from SSHE's guidelines)

4) Does blind stealing generally refer to button or cutoff, or should I consider stealing from middle (or even early) position as well? (If so, then what hands would be reasonable options to attempt steals from mid/early position, as opposed to late?)

5) Does Sklansky or this site (or anyone else whose poker advice you believe is sound) provide any definitive, solid information regarding blind steals/defense?


**I feel my game is becoming fairly solid, and I would like to move up soon, but am concerned about blinds/steals since it seems so important to the experts here, and yet my knowledge of the subjects is elementary. PLEASE HELP!!

[siegfriedandroy]

Anyone???????

[piggity]

Hi s&r,

You can find a lot of good discussion on blind defense in this thread: Post for david

[siegfriedandroy]

Hey piggity. Thanks for the link. Read through the entire thread. Good info, but as usual, I am now even more confused than before. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could attempt to go through my questions one by one with some systematic answers. I still dont know anything about how to form a general strategy for when and what hands to steal and defend with from either blind. ONE OF YOU EXPERTS PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME!

Where can I find this info? I dont want to be too tight from the blinds. And if it's true what JA said, that you cant beat 100/200 if you are tight in the blinds, then I know I have a ton of work to do before even considering moving up. Any good responses appreciated. Thanks

[Dazarath]

1) Yes, but the pre-flop recommendations in SSHE are referring to low limits, with lots of pre-flop callers, and therefore no blind stealing.

2) I've heard the following as a general guideline for blind defense: 3-bet any ace or any pocket, call with Kxs or any 2 cards 10 and above. Some people only like to 3-bet Ax+ where x is above some rank, or call Axo but 3-bet Axs. Others only like to 3-bet certain pockets above a certain rank. Other hands that can be added are suited connectors, maybe 1-spacers, etc.

3) Basically the same hands as above.

4) I believe blind stealing is defined as an open-raise from the cutoff/button. Sometimes even the hijack. As for stealing from early position, umm... I have no idea how you're going to do it, but good luck on that endeavor.

5) Not to my knowledge. It's hard to provide "definitive, solid information" for a lot of preflop situations, because people's post-flop styles are very different.

Another note: the stealer's stats make a big difference as well. If I'm in the SB with A8o, and someone with ASB of 5 open-raises on the button, that's an instant fold right there. On the other hand, if someone with an ASB of 85 open-raises on the button, I'll be 3-betting with marginal hands such as A2o, K9o, 22, etc. Keep in mind that the guidelines listed above are just guidelines. If you remember from the thread, "post for david," people were discussing blind defense with even more trashy hands. Those players are very good post-flop, though. If you're asking questions about blind defense, you probably shouldn't be defending with hands like Q6o or T7o and should stick to slightly tighter guidelines until you feel more comfortable adding more hands.