steal the blind!

naitutreaba

naitutreaba

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Hi guys, everyone is saying that the blinds are big and worth stealing..but to do so you need to have more informations.when the blinds are big if a player raise the others are saying that is stealing the blind,sometimes is true but sometimes is not..how can we make this difference?when the raise is to big?or maybe when is small?and should we always shove when we are dealer position?like to hear some opinions.Thanks!
 
makisaa

makisaa

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From the moment you have a strong hand, you can raise and raise and win!
 
Abramo Della Luce

Abramo Della Luce

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Observe your opponents and base your conclusions on those observations.
If you see that a certain player always raises on the button when it is folded to him, but in other positions plays quite tight, you can be sure that the majority of the time he is trying to steal. Of course sometimes he will have a hand, but this will be much less the case.

For yourself to know when you should steal depends again on the players to act behind you (in the BB, SB and maybe even the button while you are the CO). If you see that they are tight or weak, you should definitely try to steal. If they are calling stations, nevermind the stealing.
Also, in the beginning of a tournament, usually you shouldn't try stealing as you don't know your opponents and the blinds are very small compared with the stack sizes (much less chips to be won there). Later on, when ante is in play, it becomes much more interesting to steal (instead of 1.5 BB, you will be stealing 2.4 BB in a 9 handed game).
Of course, if you have a good hand and you're in late position, you should play it the same as if you were stealing, only this time, people might think you're stealing and more chips can be gained.

Betsizes when you're stealing and when you're raising for value, shouldn't defer, so you don't give any tells about your hand. Don't shove to steal the blinds if you have a big stack and no good hand. This is a losing proposition. Just play it the same way as you would play a good hand and you're trying to get some value.
If you're a small stack, stealing becomes more dangerous, as people will call you lighter because the cover you. However, your range should get wider in late position (same for being a big stack actually), and shove/fold play is recommended, but not to steal in the idea of having no hand and trying to fool them.
 
proud2Bwhack

proud2Bwhack

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I have heard more than once that in a cash game the blinds have no value at all.
 
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Turn7

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In my opinion stealing the blinds early in tournaments is nonsense because there are so many player that do not care about losing their stack. Stealing the blinds is rather something you should try/do in late period of tournaments like after hitting the bubble.

Of course, stealing the blinds depends on your position. The later you are the better is the chance or the decision because you know what previous players did. Stealing the blinds depends on the view and that is your view. If you decide to raise like from the Button none on the table can say if you have something or if you are real bad bluffing/stealing.

I don't think you should shove in everytime you are on the button. I know a lot of people doing that but that's really mad and obviously they have often nothing! But if you call the might have good cards and you lose your stack...
 
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ItryhardAA

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cash games blinds don't have as much weight as it does for Late game Tournament when the Ante where stealing is a must to stay good in chips
 
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