Stealing blinds. How do you handle it?

[Penguinfan]

This post may go in several directions, but any and all opinions are solicited.

For the sake of argument let's say that in every scenario you are in the second hour of an on-line game with just above an average stack.

If it folds to you on the button, do you steal EVERY time in that spot? Here's the math in my mind, the blinds are 100/200 and you raise to 600 in the hi-jack seat and are sucessful twice and the third time you get played back at for an all-in raise adn have to fold, you are now even in the process for three orbits. What's a decent strategy here?

You are SB or BB and the guy on the button is stealing EVERY time in that spot or one off the button, without fail, your getting dealt rags. Consider you and him have about the same stack which is just above the tourney average. At what point do you push with any two cards or what cards do you push with?

I was in a spot in a 5 table game and we were down to two tables when I got moved to a seat where a guy was doing exactly that. After 4 orbits I told him one more time and we would race for it, well as it happened he didn't get the chance again before we got moved to the final table. As luck would have it, about 3 hands in to the final table I was BB and he was SB and it folded around to him, at this point I have about 5000 chips and he has 3500 or so and sure enough he moves in from the SB with the blinds 300/600 I think.
I have Q6 and decide to roll the dice and call because I had enough, naturally he has AK. Is there any way to put him on a hand there? I know Q6 is trash, should I let that one go given the chip counts and wait for a better spot? What if a better spot doesn't come? Do I keep folding to this nonsense?

Well the flop came AK7 BUT I catch running Q's to send him to the rail and the chat box started flying.

Yes I know it was a horrible play and honestly if he doesn't steal EVERY time around then I lay that down without hesitation, so I guess all that agression ended up costing him, sorta.

Whats the best advice onnot only dealing with a super thief, but stealing on you own?

[Talking Poker]

Don't make your stand with Q6.... that's just a bad idea. I'd rather you call with 76 if you feel that you MUST make a stand. But beter yet, why not just keep folding until you have a hand you can probably double up with (Q6 is not said hand)? Wait until you are confident that you are ahead.

As for stealing... I do NOT steal every time. I'll fold trash. Doing so gives me a better image later on when the blinds are higher and stealing is more profitable.

[Penguinfan]

That's kinda what I was thinking. I remember reading threads following the WSOP at another forum and you would see several hands won in a walk, you just never see that on the interenet, ever.

I obviously know Q6 is not a handto play, but honestly I was just tired of this guy getting away with it every time around the table and figured the first time at the final table was the right time to put an end to it. Giventhe stack size and spot in the tournament it was probably the worst play I could have made, but RiverStars came through for me and nobody tried to steal another blind from me that game until we got heads up obviously.

Tough situation for me, very tough and probably they worst part of my game I would say.

[Zybomb]

I would not steal every time... simply because people will pick up on this and start not only defending more but reraising often. If you are risking 600 to win 300, you must be successful 2/3 times to come out even, 3/4 to come out ahead. I'd be more likely to steal 2/3 times... I wanna give people the impression that I can fold trash from this position even if its folded around to me.

Defending against steals: Late in the tourny, you don't wanna get involved HU out of position with marginal holdings (especially if blinds are high compare to chip stacks. Mid game, Im reraising with any hand I'd normally open with from MP or later (including hands such as Q10s, KJo, J10s, small PPs) and folding other hands....only occassionally calling. I'll still fold trash, unless Im against a player who raises each and every time, in which case Im likely playing back 1/2 times simply to slow him down

[Aequitas58]

You are doing a disservice to your tournament game if you are only stealing from late position. One of my favorite plays is the UTG blind steal. Sometimes, w/ trash.

It all depends, especially with tournament poker.

[Penguinfan]

I certainaly agree with that statement, I was more concerned with the exact situation of it folding all the way to the button.

[Aequitas58]

Well, it's important to take into account how your stack compares to the blinds and antes. If you aren't comfortable, you have to consider stealing. You should also consider stealing as a larger stack "leaning" on the smaller stacks.

I suggest reviewing Dan Harrington's "M" values explained in his book, Harrington on Hold'Em Vol. 2. He directly addresses this question and raises interesting situations. HOH v.2 is my second favorite book.

GL.

[Zybomb]

Greg Raymer said UTG was his favorite steal position...... there is a big * with this though. That is, that you must be sitting at a table where players respect a UTG raise... if non aware players treat it the same as any other raise (and treat their positioning the same as any other) this move is foolish and costly... also if you begin raising UTG more than 1 or 2 times every 5 or so, people are gunna start raising eyebrows.... and theres a lot of hands still available to come into the pot...

[Talking Poker]

Agreed. I find that the UTG steal works best late in a tourney. Try it early on or at the average table full of donkeys, and 5 callers later, you'll be wishing you didn't.

[Penguinfan]

LOL.

[akajeff]

Heres the thing you have to limit your steals because eventually you will lose a big portion of your stack by someone raising you. You should put in a raise in a late MTT with 2 face cards when theres 4 or less players still in the hand. Depends on how you want to play low Pocket pairs.
The only way to win big tourneys is stealing blinds in late stages!

[oketz7777]

some times you have to be the bully your self if you feel weakness in your opponents maximise on that!