Defending BB issue

[Benman]

If it's folded to the small blind, an aggressive player, who raises, how does everybody play very small pairs, 22-44 for example? My default has been to fold. If you do decide to play here, call I presume, the default line almost has to be call to the river, doesn't it? You can't be looking for trips only, otherwise the odds aren't there, but you can't just give up on the flop either, because the SB is almost always going to bet. Ideas?

[POKhER]

Depends on the villan, is he 50/30? is he 30/20?

What board do we hit? Is it 36J? or is it KT8?

Theres not a guide to this topic really [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] unfortunatly lol.

Show us an example, it will get more replys i think.

[Wynton]

Headsup, you do not need trips; low pairs will often win.

Against the "aggressive" player in your example, I definitely will not fold a pair. Indeed, there are very few hands I'd fold in this position against that player. Instead, I would just mix it up between calling and reraising.

[ejay]

Against an aggresive player i am never folding and i would prolly 3 bet. After the flop i would have to use my reads and the texture of the flop to see where i stand but against really aggro players i like going to the showdown.

[Monty Cantsin]

[ QUOTE ]
If it's folded to the small blind, an aggressive player, who raises... My default has been to fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe that it's not uncommon for good players to defend with any 2 cards in this situation. You have a pair.

/mc

[aargh57]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If it's folded to the small blind, an aggressive player, who raises... My default has been to fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe that it's not uncommon for good players to defend with any 2 cards in this situation. You have a pair.

/mc

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you suggesting to defend with any 2 cards in this situation? I can't see how that can be profitable. Even if you know he's stealing how can 72 or 84 be worth a call here as you've got the worst hand going in.

[ QUOTE ]
Are you suggesting to defend with any 2 cards in this situation? I can't see how that can be profitable. Even if you know he's stealing how can 72 or 84 be worth a call here as you've got the worst hand going in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not that I personally advocate defending with 72 here, but you're getting 3:1 on your call here so you don't need the best hand going in. Plus, you'll have position throughout the hand. I would imagine a good player could defend the significant majority of hands here profitably.

My personal limit is about any hand with any ten or higher, lower if they're suited/connected. Is this too tight?

[Monty Cantsin]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you suggesting to defend with any 2 cards in this situation? I can't see how that can be profitable. Even if you know he's stealing how can 72 or 84 be worth a call here as you've got the worst hand going in.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're getting 3:1. You have position. If your opponent raises every hand here (and many aggressive opponents will) how can you fold?

Besides, what's wrong with 84? That's a classic unsuited 3-gapper, a very versatile hand.

/mc

[aargh57]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Are you suggesting to defend with any 2 cards in this situation? I can't see how that can be profitable. Even if you know he's stealing how can 72 or 84 be worth a call here as you've got the worst hand going in.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're getting 3:1. You have position. If your opponent raises every hand here (and many aggressive opponents will) how can you fold?

Besides, what's wrong with 84? That's a classic unsuited 3-gapper, a very versatile hand.

/mc

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess maybe you're right and perhaps I should be defending more. When playing in the MLL (micro limit league-now defunct)one was constantly in this position (HU against aggressive players) and I didn't think that it would be profitable to play every hand that was raised to you. Conversely, I never auto raised with uber crap either and would sometimes even limp. Do you consider limping in the SB to be always a bad play?

[oreogod]

[ QUOTE ]


Are you suggesting to defend with any 2 cards in this situation? I can't see how that can be profitable. Even if you know he's stealing how can 72 or 84 be worth a call here as you've got the worst hand going in.

[/ QUOTE ]

well usually you should muck trash like 72o, 92o..etc, they really have no playablitily factors postflop. Id call 84s though in order to play some pokah postflop.

See the problem most ppl have with HU poker is they dont understand preflop hand values at all. How your hand compares to a random hand (if u are sb/button first to act)...you are almost always no worse than a 2-1 dog to any random hand regardless of your holding...against a aggressive button stealer u will be a little worse but u are getting 3-1 w/ position. Thats huge, especially if u play better than the stealer. You know most likely he may have the best hand but its an unpaired best hand almost always.

So 1. you flop a pair 33 percent of the time
2. a flush draw 10 percent of the time and
3.depending on what your cards are a str8 draw or gutshot another percentage of the time (example JTs hits something on the flop over 2/3 of the time, easily).
4.Some of the time u will hit nothing and steal the pot from K-high or Q-high

...add to the fact that all this is magnified with postion.

People do not understand. If u play optimal HU poker against anybody that does not know what is going on, or even if they are a good tag at fuller games, they will call u a fish. Optimal HU poker boggles many players minds.

EDIT: I guess it would be easier to say call 2/3 of all hands. But this also assumes this guy raises 100 percent of the time. But if u have control over this guy still call super liberally, still call super liberally regardless but tighten up a little if it makes u uncomfortable. Anyway here is a range of 2/3 of all hands:

22+,A2s+,K2s+,Q2s+,J2s+,T2s+,94s+,84s+,74s+,64s+,5 4s,A2o+,K2o+,Q4o+,J6o+,T6o+,96o+,86o+,76o

Still, you always have to remember to take into account who your opposition is. Against a rock tighten up, etc.