Playing from the Blinds: Micro Stakes

nabmom

nabmom

Community Guide
Community Guide
Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Total posts
6,371
Awards
13
Chips
325
One of my leaks is playing too loosely from the blinds. So I've been trying to think about optimal ways to play from both the SB and BB.

I found a nice article about this here on Cardchat (https://www.cardschat.com/playing-poker-blinds.php) and thought we could use this thread to discuss the current experience you all are having at the micros.

Quick summary of the article (and you should really go and read it yourself):
As always, everything here is player-dependent. You need to know whether the opponent who will have position on you post flop (if you play) is loose or tight, and it helps to understand how they react to out-of-position 3-bets.

Raises from the button or cut-off are steal attempts and usually represent looser holdings than early position or mid-position raises. Our options from the blinds are to fold (which is what we should be doing often), to call, or to 3-bet.

So, first question from me: In the current state of the games at micro, where I'm seeing a lot more 3-betting than I used to, and where it seems more players are calling our pre-flop 3-bets, is it generally optimal to follow the 3-betting to a steal range that this article proposes or should we tighten up:

3betting ranges vs a steal
  • KQ Ak AQ AJ (ATo, KJo sometimes)
  • JJ QQ KK AA (99-TT sometimes)
* add hands like suited connectors, suited aces, suited kings and queens vs players with a high fold to 3bet percentage.
 
Fknife

Fknife

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 26, 2013
Total posts
1,128
Chips
0
Hmm you are "CardsChat Elite" with over 2k posts so I probably wont tell you anything, that you don't already know. But anyway... I've recently watched some stuff from GrinderSchool on basics of 6max and wrote down some things regarding blinds:

SB Strategy:

1. Heads-Up vs. BB:
* Tight is right (especially against loose opponents)
* Steal a lot vs. Nits & TAGs
* Fold to a lot of 3 bets (call with middle-strength hands)
* 4bet with strong hands
* limping can be „ok” (pick up BB tendencies. Does he always raise your limp? what hands does he check back? etc)

2. Against a raise:
* 3bet or fold (worst position postflop)
* limit cold-calling
* set-mining a „no-no” (especially against late openers)

3. Balanced 3bet range:
* much like EP range
* pick your player (3bet mostly TAGs and NITs with High Fold To 3 bet, loose/aggro players 3bet only for value)

BB Strategy:


1. Against EP-BTN open:
* Raise size matters (defend mostly against small size raises)
* Tight is right (out of position)
* Rarely 3bet EP opens

2. Against SB:
* We are in position
* Defend loosely (when SB opens loosely)
* 3bet a wide range (when players play SB loosely)
* Apply pressure IP
* Raise strong hands if SB limps (and then for example: check/folds postflop)

Conclusion about positions:

* play tight when OOP
* play loose when IP
* adjust raise sizes per position
* take initiative when OOP
* adjust to your table:
- if players on your left are loose and they have position on you = tighten up
- if players on your left are loose and you have position on them = loosen up
- if players on your right are aggro donks = tighten up
- if players on your right are passive = loosen up

Just my notes. Hope it has any value for you :)
 
Last edited:
nabmom

nabmom

Community Guide
Community Guide
Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Total posts
6,371
Awards
13
Chips
325
Hmm you are "CardsChat Elite" with over 2k posts so I probably wont tell you anything, that you don't already know. But anyway... I've recently watched some stuff from GrinderSchool on basics of 6max and wrote down some things regarding blinds:

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my thread. I'm sure you know there is ALWAYS something to learn from everyone, regardless of number of posts. I happen to really like Grinder School and think they make the best videos for micro-stakes players. But the chat/interaction between players is much better here at CC.

I really appreciate the notes and will review and see how much I have already incorporated into my game and what I need to adjust.
 
Top