Playing the Small Blind

I have a general "newbie" question. When playing in a NL game and being the small blind, is it always a good idea to call (no matter what your starting hand is)? My thought is that for only half of the big blind investment (in addition to the small blind) I will be able to see the flop and possibly draw a playable hand. Is this a good strategy? If so, is there ever a time when I should fold the small blind when everyone just checks, or is it a good rule of thumb to always play when no-one has raised the big blind?

Anxiously awaiting your input . . .

BOB C.

One of the weaknesses I found in my game a while back from Pokertracker is that I was losing a lot of money from the SB (even excluding the forced bet). This basically came from making too many calls into unraised pots with hands that are utter crap. Yes you're getting good odds on a call, but calling with something like J7 will get you in trouble after the flop quite often, as unless you flop 2 pair or a set you'll be uncertain. By all means call with good drawing hands if there are a lot of limpers, but don't stretch your starting hand requirements too far.

You want to call with hands like suited connectors (5-6 and above). If your game is loose, you will want to limp in with connecting hands or high suited cards and outplay your opponents postflop...

You don't want to auto-call in the SB EVER! Post-flop you are in the worst position and you can get into trouble with hands like K9 or QJ when you flop top pair but your kicker is weak.

In my opinion, playing as many hands from the small blind as you can is a must. UNLESS they are extreme garbage, I will almost always play to the flop, especially if I am holding a lot of chips. You just have to realize one thing - and chicubs mentioned this - that if you're holding something like J6 and the flop comes J 9 4, so you might have more to be worried about than you think! Be willing to play this top pair VERY conservatively, cause another jack and any kicker hurts you, not to mention hands like Q 10, J 9, or QJ.

You make a good point. You know, playing poker is really a science. It is definitely not just a game of chance by no means. Since starting to play, I've found that my best game is when I am without any distractions and completely concentrating on the table. This is a far cry from the home games as a child with the family for pennies (lol).

BOB C.

I agree with playing suited connectors or sometimes just connectors or suited cards (i.e. 5-6 sutied and above, or 8-9 off and above, or K suited or A suited). That is if there is no raise preflop, and I also look at how many people are in the hand. If it is only 1 or 2 people I usually play, but more than that with a marginal hand I fold, because unless you flop strong you are going to get into trouble. My rule is unless I flop a good draw (oen ended straight or a flush draw, or two pair or set) I usually get out. I I flop top pair with cheap kicker, I usually get out if someone bets over two times the big blind. Had worked well for me most of the time

In my opinion, playing as many hands from the small blind as you can is a must. UNLESS they are extreme garbage, I will almost always play to the flop, especially if I am holding a lot of chips.

Why?? 2 small blinds equal one BB. Why would you call a raise with marginal hands??
The small blinds EV value almost doesn't warrent any call from it. Save your SB bets for the next time the SB comes around. So instead of calling, you fold the SB for another bet in the SB. No waste of chips, doesn't make you 1st to act.

I find it so interesting the different point of views on a particular subject. I've been folding the SB if someone raises, but if they don't I almost always call regardless of what's in my hand. I have a feeling that's not a good thing to do and that's why I started this topic; so that I can see what others think and do as well.

This is very bad advice...

You want to have hands that play well in multi-way pots since most of the time if it is only half a bet to you there have been many limpers in the hand. Hands such as suited connectors (56 and above) pocket pairs (play the small pairs for set value only), and two large cards are ideal for calling when in the SB. Don't just call for the sole reason of seeing a flop, have a decent hand...

Even if you hold a lot of chips, you will lose a significant portion in these stupid calls from the SB with bad hands. Sure 1/50 times you will hit a boat or something, but this is not a reason to limp bad hands no matter what.

The SB is the worst post-flop position, you really only want to continue after the flop with hands that hit a large piece of the flop ( ie. top pair, open-ended straight draw, flush draw, etc.)

I really dont agree with you here chi. If you're playing a 5 or 6 player game and you have a decent but certainly not good starting hand, I think it would be a good idea to call the blinds often. If you have a Q 4 and the flop is 2 7 Q, sure you could lose some chips because of your kicker...but it wont happen very often. If you raise on the flop, you can feel out your opponents to see if they have a Q also. If they dont and just caught 2nd pair, you can make a decent amount from them. The chances of them happening to have a Q is pretty low (thats 3 Qs in only 7 cards...your hand, his hand, and the flop). Even better, your opponent will have a very tough time putting you on a hand, so you can make a lot if you hit a strong hand.

Well the first thing about the thought process that needs fixed here is that SB is no longer yours it belongs to the pot. Which means you need to look at the pot and the cards you are dealt and THEN decide what your move should be, not think "well I get to see the flop for half price". Fundamentally flawed thinking! The bets you save are just as important as the ones you win!

Not to mention if your eager to call on the small blind just to see the flop, I think eventually the BB is gonna catch on and start raising your call. If you have squat, your probably not going to call his raise, you may fold and end up giving him double what you would have given him if ya just folded the squat in the first place. just my opinion

I call almost everything from SB, and think maybe I shouldn't (i'm going to have to get Pokertracker like Dorkus). I find that even when I flop 2 pair in SB, they never seem to hold up and win. I'm going to try and be a bit more selective in future games, and see what happens.

I never really thought about it being in the position right after the dealer button. You've changed my thought process about this completely. This IS the worst spot on the table post flop and I'm now going to be much more selective on what I play. Good comments and they make complete sense to me!

Thanks a bunch!

BOB C.

I always play the small blind, shows a sign of strength as a player

What most people don't take into consideration is the inherent weakness of being in the SB. Other than preflop your are first to act. This puts you at a great disadvantage. So calling with less than good hands even a half bet is not a good idea.

On a passive table you should play almost any 2 suited since it is only costing you half a bet. Yes play Ax off and Kx off because it is only costing you half a bet to be in the hand. Yes play connectors down to maybe 67. But, you should tighten up if the table is in an agrressive mode. Just because one hand goes by checked doesn't mean the table is all of a sudden passive and you should loosen up. If it is aggressive you might be inclined to fold Kx altogether and raise from just 2 suited cards to suited one gaps only. And raise connectors to up 89 or even 910.

Things like q10 or j9 really should be hands you aren't giving a second thought about. They are pretty much trash. And forget stuff like q7, j5 and other absolute junk period.
Just because you have on face card isn't a green light to call from the SB.

SB are a dangerous positions to be in. Too much can happen to ruin your game. The most common scenario is the BB will make a nice raise when you are holdin trash to "just see", forcing you to fold and losing chips. I play the SB the same as any other hand.

I have found that calling with anything from the SB is tempting but can lead to getting thumped. For example, you make the small 2 pair, throw a lot of money in the pot, and get beat by a good starting hand. I try to treat the small blind just like any hand and determine if I would play it based on the cards, my position, and the price to play.

Now THAT'S a really good point! I can't count how many times that very scenario has happened to me.

BOB C.

If you have a marginal hand, then let the fact that you are in the small blind be the deciding factor. I personally see no reason to change your style of play just because you are in the small blind, it will only cost you money in the long run.

I am always prepared to walk away from the sb or the bb depending on what i have and who is in the hand and the cost....would rather lose a little then a lot....do this too often and you have given away too many bets.....its dont seem like much per hand but when you get to the final 30 players add up what you wasted on speculative stupid bets....hmmmmm

You must!

I took a look a while back and I was seeing something like 55% of flops from the SB, which is obviously too much. Down to 38% now, and the funny thing is discounting the blind bets the SB is my 3rd most profitable position after the button and BB - and when I was seeing 55% I was of course losing from the SB.

These are mainly SnG stats so they might be somewhat corrupted by heads up and shorthanded play, but the improvement is still obvious.