akmost
Rising Star
Loyaler
It depends on stack sizes. When you are deep enough (30-35 BB+), I think it's good to defend with hands that connect with the board in a pretty polarized way, like suited connectors, small to mid pocket pairs, Axs (I'm 3-betting some of those to LP with high frequencies of attempting to steal), and hands like KJ+, QJ, and sometimes AK, AQ (pot control, underrep my hand, but more often, like 70%, I'm 3-betting those).
This way, I don't get commited to calling multiple streets with some probable second best hands like top pair average kicker, or second pair. Suited connector? Flop strong draws, two pair or better, I'm playing. Worse? Fold flop. Pocket pairs? Flop overpair, two pair or sets, I'm playing. Worse? Fold. Axs? Flop nut flush draw, two pair or better (obviously not folding top pair on the flop against LP raisor)? I'm playing, worse fold.
This way I think I don't leak chips OOP.
If I drop below 25 BBs, I tend to defend the BB a much more strict range, pretty much 88+, AT+, KJ+, QJ, and most of the time I'm not even defending: I'm 3-betting/jamming all my range against LP raise.
I think this BB strategy gets real close to leak free BB strategy. BB is a losing position in poker in general. You get to play OOP post flop and I don't like getting hooked to pair type of hands post flop. You hardly will be able to realise your equity, since post flop the BB can most of the time value bet just one street unless you're willing to raise.
So you don't get paid with your good hands, what's the point of even playing this position?
Yeap I play the same as you actually but I found in my tracking program that the BB is the spot i bleed chips the most. And that's why I opened that thread.
What about suited or Unsuited gappers like 57 , 8T , J9? You defend that kind of hands or you believe that in the longrun is a -EV play? with 30-35 bbs.
I just believe that BB is the spot that some players can play a very wide range and they can hit the board pretty hard.And can do well against a bad player!
I'm waiting for a big hand in the BB or if I have folded a lot and the villain is aware I may try to still one but it take several orbits to set then upHey Guys,
What range of your hands do you defend when you are deep in a MTT? Let's Say that we don't have a shovable ammount of BBs and we have to defend against the bully of the table. Also note that I want just to defend and not to 3bet-shove.
Everyone's opinion matters!!!
What about your sample size?
I guess gappers still count as suited connectors, they have very similar playability and fare pretty close in terms of equity against most ranges.
The thing about defending an specific/polarized range the BB is not about EV, it's more about implied odds. You gotta be able to bring stacks in postflop when the flop matches your range for these to be profitable defends.
I think every tracked player will notice that the BB is the bleeding spot. I think overdefending is generally a worse strategy than underdefending. It's more about how bad you want to bleed.
I'm waiting for a big hand in the BB or if I have folded a lot and the villain is aware I may try to still one but it take several orbits to set then up
Hey Guys,
What range of your hands do you defend when you are deep in a MTT? Let's Say that we don't have a shovable ammount of BBs and we have to defend against the bully of the table. Also note that I want just to defend and not to 3bet-shove.
Everyone's opinion matters!!!
When someone is being a bully and you're BB, is it better to tighten up and shove more often? Or should I just 3-bet with a wider range?
Depends , How many big Blinds you have? If you have 15-20 bbs you can't 3bet because you will be pot-commited. So a shove there will be just fine.
If you have 40+ bbs you can 3bet the bully because you are deep enough. Flatting with the range of hand people already said in this thread is also +ev. Especially if you have a well disquised hand.
In my opinion, defending big blind without 3-bet and shove is more difficult.
In the situation you present the best thing to do is read the opponent's style and play post-flop with him. If he is very paying, I think he will bring many problems. Against passive players it even works well.
Alright that clears some things up already ^^
But what about the saying if the table is loose, tighten up? Is it different here because we're in the BB?