Defending Blinds?

[bothecorgi]

In a thread regarding 6 player tables, there was a brief mention of defending blinds. How often do people feel they must defend their blinds? Also, do you defend your blinds differently in limit vs. nl games?

[PShabi]

From things I've read, and my brief playing experience, you cannot get caught up in defending your blinds. You have to realize, the blind you posted does not belong to you. It belongs to the pot. You have not put any money in. Granted, people in late position, especially in a 6 player game will raise with marginal hands to get the blinds out of the hand and narrow the field.

Just chalk that up to the advantage of position. If I'm in a 2/4 game, and someone raises me in late position and I'm the big blind, I look at my hand and ask myself:

Would I call the big blind if I was in 3rd position? If the answer is yes, then I'll defend, but if not, I fold and count it as a bet saved.

You have to remember, you are in early position in the blinds. You have no positional advantage and if you play a 78 offsuit just to defend. What are you going to do when the flop comes K75 Rainbow. Or even if it's 7 2 5 and you flop top pair and someone is playing with you. You're beat by a 7-9 for god's sake. Be disciplined.

[2Tone]

This strikes me as excellent advice, at least for my non-expert skill level. I know that by consistently laying down my BB is face of a raise at 2/4, I'm likely costing myself a few potential wins. I rationalize this as by not getting caught up in hands that I shouldn’t and facing potentially tough decisions on the turn/river, I’m offsetting much greater potential losses. Fold, and keep my money for raising when I have the nuts. Won’t win as much, but limit variance. Grind. Grind. Grind.

[bothecorgi]

I believe that defending blinds is one of the worst leaks possible. If someone wants to take my blind from me when I have 72, you are welcome to it.

[Defendant]

Defending the blinds is basically calling a raise with less money. So if you have a drawing hand in a 2/4 game on the big blind and the pot is raised to 2 bets, 3 callers, there is 15$ in the pot (4x3 + sb + bb). Now you would be able to get in on the action for 2$, as you have posted the blind already, i.e. you get to see a discounted flop: This doubles your pot odds, instead of 4/17 you are only calling 2/17, which is significant. So a drawing hand is something you can defend with (but tighten up if you miss the flop).

Defendant

[eddo31]

i think that defending your blinds is generally overrated. people constantly talk about defending your blinds as if it is one of the most important skills you can have in a game. i think that pros place a greater emphasis on defending their blinds, because they are able to play hands with a higher skill level post flop.

also, the level of skill of the players should come into play. if the players are all of an equal skill level, then defending your blinds well can give you an important advantage, whereas if you are a better player than the rest of the table, you should concentrate more on playing solid poker and you will do fine.

also, there must be a distinction made between defending your blinds by re-raising, or by calling. re-raising may let you take control of the hand, but just calling is generally a weak move.

[robert2504]

For me it will depend how much it will cost me. In ring games, I rarely defend them. In tournaments, it will depend how much it will cost me. If it is cheap I will try to defend my blind and hope to hit the flop. Otherwise just fold. There is always a chance to knowck someone out when you have strange hands in your pocket because the raiser never knows what you called with.

[GeoffM]

When I play O8B, as long as I don't have any trips I'm defending in the small blind, but by defending I mean if I have trash I will simply call and hope to see the flop for the other half of the small blind.

In hold em, I will fold the small blind, but I do have a bit looser of an approach pre-flop in the SB.