Hand to Talk About

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi Ulysses:

I'm now an old timer and "cutoff" is a relatively new term. To me the seat is "one off the button."

Best wishes,
mason

[andyfox]

How would late position pre-flop play differ if the structure of the game was changed to that there were three blinds? I would think you would loosen up on your playing/raising standards because the reward for "stealing" the blinds was that much more.

But of course the blinds would be more tempted to also loosen up their calling standards for the same reason, especially if there were two big blinds (as there was in this case).

Didn't hold'em used to be played with only one blind? If so, wouldn't this situation be analogous to the change from one blind to two?

[Paluka]

I think that more blinds means you should tighten up your standards, not loosen them. Having more resistance more than outweighs the extra money. It should be obvious when you continue to add blinds. If 6 guys posted behind you, you don't raise it up with Q8o because of the extra blinds. I guess some might make the argument that the function is not linear- this could be the case because some hands play better multiway. With 6 blinds you might raise it up with 89s, but not with A7o. You can loosen up more in actual dead money situations like when people post a bb + a dead sb. The same concept works when you reduce blinds as well- on the button against just a big blind you can raise a lot of hands. You are against just one random hand plus you have position.
As for J9o, I think limping would be better than raising but I think I would fold.

[Gabe]

It's the type of hands you loosen or tighten up with that's relevant.

[nykenny]

By no means I am saying it is wrong to fold J9o in CO (cut-off, where did this term come from?). However, in a soft field, which describes the 10-20 game i usually play in, I am confident i can play J9o profitably against 3 blinds in position, so my first choice would be to raise, close 2nd would be to limp, especially so if i sense the Button is going to fold.

Kenny

[ACPlayer]

Would it not be easier to play J9 off against a tight field then a soft field?

With a tight field you are more likely to know where you are then against a soft field. Also more likely to steal pot on many flops.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

It's basically a trash hand, plus you are virtually assured of two things:

1. if you raise you won't steal anything, you'll be playing trash for two bets against at least one opponent.

2. if you call you're almost certainly going to have three opponents to take on with your trash hand.

I see no problem here with folding.

al

[skp]

While there may be no "problem" with folding, I don't necessarily see it as being clearly the best play (and perhaps you don't either...I am not suggesting that you do or don't).

One could call and simply use position at a later stage in the hand to win the pot (guys in early position are easier to read postflop when there has been no preflop raise). As for a raise, it too has something going for it. You may not be able to steal the blinds preflop but your raise may set up a steal on 3rd or 4th street.

I can see good viable arguments for folding, calling, and raising.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

You are right, I think it's close and I won't spend much time trying to de-bunk anyone's opinion if it differs with mine. I would fold because I tend to play a bit conservatively. I personally don't like unsuited middle cards. Now if there was only the usual two blinds I'd probably raise from the cutoff with J9o.

al

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi SKP:

I think at a lower limit, which tend to play less aggressively, calling becomes a viable option.

Best wishes,
Mason