Playing from the Blinds: Mastering a Crucial Spot in Poker

Hey you all! Today we’re diving into one of the most challenging aspects of poker—playing from the blinds. We already touched on playing out of position in a previous post, but the blinds deserve their own attention. The blinds are tough because you’re forced to commit chips without seeing your cards, and you’ll be out of position on almost every hand. Whether you're a cash game grinder or tournament regular, learning how to defend your blinds effectively is key to long-term success.

Let’s break it down and get you crushing from the small and big blind!

Why Defending the Blinds Matters

Defending the blinds isn't just about protecting your chips; it’s also about not getting exploited by opponents who will raise with marginal hands to steal them.

Key reasons to defend:

• Preventing Automatic Steals: If you fold too much, aggressive players will raise with anything and take your blinds uncontested.
• Pot Odds: You’ve already committed chips to the pot, which means you’ll often get better odds to call than other positions.

When should you defend?

• Late Position Raises: Opponents from the cutoff or button are often raising with a wide range, making it a good spot to defend.
• Playable Hands: Hands like suited connectors, broadway cards, and small pairs are great for defending.

Strategies for Playing from the Big Blind

1. Calling in the Big Blind
   The big blind gives you a discount to call and see a flop, so calling with a wider range is often correct. For example, if the button raises 2.5x and you have J-8 suited, you can call due to the favorable pot odds and potential to hit straights or flushes.
2. Three-Betting from the Big Blind
   Don’t let opponents bully you by stealing from the late position! You can 3-bet hands like A-Q offsuit or suited connectors. Applying pressure here can force opponents to fold or put you in control post-flop.
3. Adjusting to Stack Sizes
   When you’re short-stacked (15BB or less), shoving all-in is often the best play. For example, if you’re sitting with K-10 offsuit and only 12BB, a shove from the big blind is likely the best way to maximize fold equity.

Strategies for Playing from the Small Blind

1. Completing the Small Blind
   While it might be tempting to call and see a flop cheap, you need to be careful. You’ll always be out of position post-flop. Only complete with hands that can hit strong pairs or draws, like 6-7 suited. This hand can flop well and apply pressure to the big blind.
2. Raising from the Small Blind
   Raising from the small blind puts pressure on the big blind. If you have a hand like A-5 offsuit and the big blind is known for folding often, a raise can take down the pot preflop.
3. Stack Size Awareness
   Just like in the big blind, when short-stacked in the small blind, you should consider shoving instead of completing or raising with marginal hands. For example, with 15BB and A-9 suited, shoving all-in is often the best play to maximize fold equity.

Post-Flop Play from the Blinds

1. Continuation Betting from the Blinds
   If you raised preflop and the flop comes favorable, like 7-5-3 when you have A-Q, a continuation bet can force folds. This is especially effective if the board doesn’t hit your opponent’s range.
2. Check-Raising as a Bluff
   If you sense weakness in your opponent’s continuation bet, check-raising from the big blind can be a strong play. For example, if you have 8-6 suited on a J-7-2 flop and your opponent makes a small bet, a check-raise could scare them off.
3. Pot Control
   When you hit a marginal hand from the blinds, like top pair with a weak kicker, controlling the pot is critical. Instead of building a huge pot with a vulnerable hand, opt for check-calls to keep the pot manageable.

Defending the Blinds in Tournaments

1. Defending More Frequently
   In tournaments, blinds increase, so defending becomes even more critical. If you fold too often, your stack will dwindle. Hands like J-9 suited in the big blind are great for calling against late-position raises, especially when antes are in play.
2. Shoving from the Blinds
   When short-stacked in tournaments, look for opportunities to shove from the blinds. If you have A-8 offsuit and only 10BB left, this is an ideal spot to shove over a late-position raise.

Final Thoughts

Playing from the blinds isn’t easy, but mastering these spots can drastically improve your overall win rate. The key is balancing aggression with caution, depending on stack sizes, position, and opponent tendencies. Defend when appropriate, don’t be afraid to 3-bet or shove, and use pot control wisely post-flop.

Start incorporating these strategies, and you’ll see yourself holding onto more chips and winning pots from the most challenging seats at the table.

See you at the tables!
— Alon Marcus