So the tourney is an hour and a half in, what’s the bloke to the left of you got left? What are the blinds at now? Is he on tilt opposite you from that bad beat? Oh, he’s only got five big blinds left to my right, he’ll be shoving soon. What, antes next already! Wow, this is getting close to the bubble. Then two hands later and it could have changed again.
So it’s forever changing with the blinds, antes, people being knocked out, you climbing the ladder towards pay off, suck outs, steals, bad beats, unreal folds and you want to know about your big blind?
From time to time there gets a point in a tourney when you have to make a stand and protect your blinds from being stolen.
However, working out when and how is the key, otherwise people will see what you’re doing and either re-raise you or go all in against you. This then leaves you in a vulnerable position or a predicament as what to do.
So when is it a good time to protect them against that raise and how?
There are many times in a tourney when people will raise while you are in small or big blind that’s how poker is played.
We will concentrate on your big blind in this instance as this is the most frustrating to say goodbye to.
Protecting Your Blinds -
Someone raises into your blind in early position and everyone else folds.
Firstly, how much did they raise?
Three times the blind?
This is a standard semi hand play raise. Put yourself in their position and ask yourself why am I raising in early position three times the blind, do I want a call? This type of raise normally tells you they have half a hand and what to weed out the limpers and fish so they don’t catch on the flop and then wont let go post flop.
So you know you’re up against a possible ace/picture or medium pocket pair. If you too have half a hand then call and protect or re-raise and ask the question (metaphorically) do you really have a hand? Remember though, you are out of position post flop so be prepared to get an answer you may not like. If he re-shoves all-in then why fight? Maybe he has got a hand, however that re-raise may have saved you your tourney by telling you then and not post flop when you may have caught some of your hand and still probably behind.
Four times the blind?
This is generally a move with made hands where again they want the limpers and fish out of the way, they are happy for a call or to take the blinds and antes there and then. However call me if you have a hand and be prepared for it to get fruity post flop.
All-in?
Well the message is clear to us all, I’m committing my whole tourney, now, here, right this second, on this one hand. This is always a brave move in early position, unless you’ve got the stone cold nuts (AA). It means two things, one, I have a monster and if you call then unlucky, don’t you dare suck out on me and you best have a hand. Two, I’m desperate, the blinds and antes are going up too quick, I can’t keep up. I need to steal the blinds to last another round so please fold and leave me to steal them. The only, average chip stack, hands that should be calling this move are AA and maybe KK, anything else, well, you need to be able to cover his all-in and still have enough to be chip leader or, well, are you here to gamble?
Someone raises into your blind in mid position, everyone before them has folded.
Three times the blind?
A high percentage of the time in the later stages of a tourney, (about one to two hours onwards), if someone is raising in mid position, they have a hand, as simple as that. So be careful and proceed with caution, or run and hide. I would most of the time be folding here as they’re generally not trying to steal (like in early position) they’ve got no reason to get involved, yet they have. So mid position man, you really want my blinds that bad, you have them. I’ll get them back when I’m dealer button.
Four times the blind?
This again, in mid position is so difficult, why would they raise in mid position later in a tourney when they can fold and have no need to get involved in this hand? Well, this is tough, if they’ve got a hand, why four times the blind, why not three? They’re not trying to steal in mid position are they? They’ve lasted this long so far to know not to try a steal in mid position, that’s what the big blind or button is for, isn’t it? Wow, all this time in the tourney and they make a move there! Something hasn’t distracted them has it? They’ve not just had a text telling them to “come home quick”? You haven’t got a hand though, dam, you’ll have to let this one go, this time. Next time if you do actually have a half decent hand, think about maybe re-raising them to ask the question again. However if they’re genuine you can expect a re-raise to be all-in back at you. If they’ve not, they may flat call me to save face to see a flop then fold on you first betting or just admit they’ve got caught with their hand in the cookie jar and fold there and then.
All-in?
It’s not a steal, it’s generally not a bluff and they have something. Again why get involved if they don’t need to? Unless you’re mad or you’re sitting their in big blind with the nuts then fold. You don’t need to play to their rules, they’re here to play to yours.
Someone raises into your blind in late or even the button position, everyone before them has folded.
Three times the blind?
Generally two options here, they’re stealing and want the blinds and the ante or they have a hand and don’t mind a call because they will have position on you post flop. So now what do you think? Well maybe a re-raise slightly more than the standard three times, this will throw them off and put there hand in doubt. If they call then be brave post flop and represent it if you have outs. If you miss totally be prepared for them to bet and maybe get out of there. Or the over alternative is to obviously fold. If they keep doing this then your being bullied and you need to make a stand after about two or three times to let them know.
Four times the blind?
Yes maybe a hand, however why four times when three times was enough for a call. They obviously don’t want a call and they’re stealing your hard earned blinds, again! You may not have a monster hand, maybe a medium hand with combination outs would be worth a call. Watch their face for reactions as you call and watch what they do post flop.
All-in?
Wow so late and your now going all-in, what have you woken up with, a monster and don’t know how to play it, or are your pocket two’s in doubt and not safe to see a flop? Ok with this one, you can’t push them off obviously, your in or your out. The problem is, how many chips has he shoved all-in with, will it take you out if you lose? Is it such a small amount that you can afford it and you fancy a gamble against this lose player? Or are they about the same as you and knows you can play and wants to push you off? After all, they had that bad beat two hands ago and lost their big blind and a bit more to a small all-in?
So when is it not a good time to protect your blinds and fold to that raise?
Every time you come up against that tight player. Every time you look down to see those horrible off-suited cards that couldn’t even make a straight unless they gave you the connecting five cards in between. Every time there’s more then three callers! Three you say why not surely I’ve got value in the call? Well yes, however you then need to evaluate who’s calling, what their stack is like and what’s going to happen post flop. If it’s something you don’t like, then fold.
