CARD DEAD - When to steal ??

Heyy guys,

What's the best way to steal blinds pre-flop or even on the flop (regardless of what comes and who the opponent is), when you're CARD DEAD ?

Say thru out the middle stages and ante's have being in play, what's the best way to steal, if you're a LAG or TAG? What would be the best method to apply to your arsenal compared to style of play you have. Am more like a TAG player so I guess that would be easier, right?

Thanks

Stealing blinds has nothing to do with your cards, as nobody will see them if you're successful: you should be able to with ATC. (I particularly love the iffy hammer steal) A LAG player will have more difficulty stealing as they raise too often and people will be more willing to call them down. TAG players represent a tighter range, and are more likely to be successful when stealing. There are a lot of variables you don't mention, and these need to be taken into consideration so you can find the best spots to go for the steal. Pay attention to the table, and make a note of who you should steal from beforehand. Look for players who don't defend their blinds, and players who avoid getting involved OOP. Be wary of short-stacks, as they will be inclined to shove and steal your steal :icon_blac Generally speaking, the best spots to steal from are CO and OTB, although SB steals will often work against the right opponents. As a TAG, you can also work in some steals from earlier positions because it would appear highly unlikely that you were bluffing When stealing, you must always be ready for a re-raise and plan accordingly! Also, try not to steal too often... Others will see what you are up to if you're stealing at least once every orbit, or every time you get the button, etc. and it will not work for long. If players suspect you of stealing they will re-raise you, it may (or may not!) be wise to shove here to scare them off and convince them that you are not stealing (this will also prevent future re-raises) and now instead of 1.5BB+antes, you've stolen 5.5BB+antes. Be prepared to stack-off against AA if you get unlucky though, they don't call it gambling for nothing :joyman:

Sorry it is early and I just got up.
I thought the thread was " Car dead- When to steal. "
So never mind.

This is actually really hard to describe... I think you should not be trying to steal blinds very often.. If you are already feeling more on the tight side you should feel more confident throwing in a 3X 4X BB raise when UTG.. I usually wait for a position in which everyone folded to me.. I have suited cards and make a delayed raise... If you are playing right you might get 1 call and if someone re raises.. I would mostly fold and in certain "Feel" spots try to re push.. Depending on stack sizes on history, sometimes even call and see what happens.. You can not steal the blinds if the people to your left are deep stacked as well as aggressive.. It will be hard to do. I would more or less wait for a legit hand and raise.. If you are short stacked thats all feel.. And by that point you better hit anyways =D

The Ideal Blind-Stealing Situation

You're on the button. The rest of the table has folded to you. The blinds to your left have been selective players, often going numerous hands of folding out, in order to get a good playable hand. The gamble is that they too will perceive weakness in their own hands and lay down for your bluff (this can also be adapted to the position just right of the button, if the button player is tight, too). If you run into a huge hand, they'll launch at you, so, if you get caught, you'll have to back down. They'll also eventually launch at you if you abuse your privilege by doing it every time. If the blinds are tight and unlucky, dem chips is yos!

one way to do it is to analyze the villans, if the villans fold to steal go at them preflop, if they are fit fold(they limp fold alot) then stab the flops

TeUnit said:

if they are fit fold(they limp fold alot) then stab the flops

Click to expand...

Thanks alot for this, I've never considered this (I'm obviously an idiot) and it makes so much sense. This is why I came to the forum (to learn), thank you :icon_thum

Heres a little to think about.
you should be evaluating the table and players then you can and will have the information to know who and when you can steal the blinds. I watch players run into tight players who dont raise preflop out of position unless they have AK - pocket pairs . Then the player trying to steal blinds types in chat you got lucky you had a hand .
Know what your looking for so you can steal blinds and pots before you need too.Before getting down to 25 to 15 BB . You shouldnt do say not buy blinds until you have 25 to 15 BB but be looking for them spots through out the game .
if you feel you dont need to then your giving what could be your chips away to others . GOOD LUCK and have fun .

Thanks guys..this helps a lot. Definitely agree with table evaluation and the image you have been given to them, as well as what position you're using.

I have noticed that some players play back at you, just because they're the chip leader and think they can get you off, which does work for them sometimes. I guess it would also be best to go for players with same stack size as you, would you agree?

Some say that, you can make it to the final table just from stealing blinds...I think this is an important subject area of poker which some people might know about but not really sure about how to apply to their game.

Thanks

ShowMaster14 said:

Thanks guys..this helps a lot. Definitely agree with table evaluation and the image you have been given to them, as well as what position you're using.

I have noticed that some players play back at you, just because they're the chip leader and think they can get you off, which does work for them sometimes. I guess it would also be best to go for players with same stack size as you, would you agree?

Some say that, you can make it to the final table just from stealing blinds...I think this is an important subject area of poker which some people might know about but not really sure about how to apply to their game.

Thanks

Click to expand...

I agree. It is easier to steal from players with same size as your. Also, if you trying to steal from Large stack then Its smarter to bet large to show them you are serious and that you have strong hand. Many times they call your 3bet easily just to see the flop ragarding to their big stack.

card dead

I'll run dead for while then throw pot bet. The higher the blinds if holding out a couple rounds the better it works.good cards good games to you

fubarcdn said:

Sorry it is early and I just got up.
I thought the thread was " Car dead - When to steal. "
So never mind.

Click to expand...

In answer to the blind stealing. I always try to keep my bet sizes consistant. I know that others tell you to vary your bet size, to keep your opponents guessing but if I am stealing I normally bet about 3bb's pre-flop and about 3/4 pot on the flop. Sometimes you will find it necessary to 3 or 4 barrel to convince your opponent that you actually have something.

Good luck with your bluffs.

I think stealing blinds has nothing to do with you and everything to do with your opponents' tendencies. They defend the blinds too much or give up there blinds when they dont have a great hand. Also what your table image is if you are a lag be wary of a reshove if they dont believe you have a premium hand. I would also just be consistent wuth the betting you normally would use 3-4 bb.

A lot of if you should steal or not depends on the table dynamics. How are the people on your left playing? Are they folding a lot to your open raises? If so than steal from them all day. If they don't like to fold to c-bets then sometimes you gotta fire that 2nd barrel. Sometimes a 3rd as well. So much of what you're asking is playing/table dependent. But for the most part in the later stages of mtts I like to open up my pre flop raising range pretty wide especially from late position. I hope this helps...

There's a lot of good advice here, thanks.

Usually you want to be in late position to steal the blinds , you can open wider from there but you need the appropriate reads too.

This can be a tough call when to bluff you would think after folding ten hands in a row and all of a sudden you make a big raise it would work but some times its never a good time to do it i guess if you have A K you might try it then

The biggest key to stealing is to have developed a tight table image. If everyone sees you folding every hand for an hour straight, then they will generally assume you're only opening with premiums. Once you have developed this image, then you can open with a wider range and you should easily be able to get away with it (as long as you never show). Having a nitty image makes it so much easier to steal blinds without meeting resistance from players that like to defend. As far as timing goes, it's always best to wait until the antes start before you start stealing, as there is more chips in the pot to take. And you need a few levels at least before you can develop that tight image.

First of all it is your authority. If players know, that you can raise with something suted, they will folding. In adittion, I use one more move: if I had raise 2-3 times in a circle, so I can try stilling (it is does not apply to the case when you have a monster on hands)

When Push Comes To Shove

If we're talking a 15 big blind stack or less I have two suggestions, be patient and be willing to gamble. Many people fold under the pressure when their stacks get short; your options may be limited but if your stack allows you to fold for 3 or 4 orbits then you have no business shoving 12bb's from early position with A5 off suit. Wait for a spot where you are the first to enter the pot and you're either comfortable with a fold through (shoving from late position) or are looking to get to heads up showdown (shoving from early position.) If everyone has folded to you on the button and you're dealt 910 suited with 12bb's left, that is an automatic shove. You have to stick to spots where you have fold equity or are willing to gamble with one caller. All-in or fold mode may sound simple in theory, but it takes a lot of practice to master, stay patient and keep grinding.

when your on the button and every called just raise or double blind usually everyone will fold

Yes, it will be easier to steal the blinds as you play a small range of hands, but only against tight players and LAG, and when the blinds and antes will be significant. And you need to look at the percentage steal enemy.

It depends, and you have to take that decision to steal or not to steal regarding :
1- your cards
2- your style of play and your history of play in that table
3- your position
4- your stack : x* BB
5- style of play your opponents
6- tournament buy in ( more player will call you with any 2 cards in low buy in tournaments ).