[bdawg31]

..one would think you would have to steal/defend more - since the blinds come around so fast and blah-blah-blah. But, the fact is, vs the 'gamblers' and goofs that you are going to see - you get paid PLENTY on your legitimate hands to make up for all of that.

Also, it is rare that you steal many blinds. I think TP will back me on this - but i RARELY see a raise and all fold preflop. Not enough to make it a profitable play. You might want to throw in some semi-bluff steals to mix things up when you are the first in - but dont make it a rule.

Now, lets say that we had a 6-seated table with TP, you, Chip, AEQ, me (if i may be so bold to lump myself in that group) buckets, etc... - THEN i would say you would have to take that strategy of stealing/defending more often. But a table with you, one other strong player and 4 dorks - i dont think its worth it.

I will defend my BB a little loose vs SB only due to positional advantage. I dont get cute with early position raisers. I have noticed that cutting down on the blatant steal attempts as well as over-defending seems to cut down on my fluxuations. Maybe long-term there is some profit in doing it right - but for someone newer to short-seated (and heck i have logged quite a few hands and i dont do it that much) i dont think its worth it.