-Phil Ivey27
Visionary
Silver Level
Stealing blinds in tournament play is a technique that in most of the poker books/articles out there, and all of the poker books/articles I have read, is undoubtedly necessary to succeed in the tournament poker world.
I am typically a player who abides by this rule of succeeding in tournament poker and therefore, when I feel the time is right, I make a move on the blinds. But, in there lies the problem, as maybe I don't know when the time is right.
Often times I have gotten myself involved in blind stealing/re-stealing hands where I look back and say how did that become such a big pot and why am I on the losing end?
For example.. I will not use hand history here due to me being a little lazy. Yesterday I was in the $4 rush tournament and had a smaller than medium sized stack with the blinds being high enough that a steal would plump me up a bit. I held 9 6 suited on the button and my HUD told me there were two very tight players in the blinds, with medium stacks! BINGO! Right?
Well, not so much. After some time deliberating whether I should raise it 2.5x the BB, or 3x the BB, I decide the best move here might be to simply push all-in. The reasoning being that I really don't want to raise 3x the BB and end up getting called just to be forced to check down and be left with a small stack, so I put the pressure on these nits. AGGRESSION.
The small blind quickly folds and the clock is on the BB, who as the time ticks down can either be surfing the net and forgot he had a game running, or deliberating whether or not this moment is really worth it.
My thoughts at the time; there is no way he can call me here because he himself does not want to risk his tournament life on a silly blind battle, especially not a nitty man as himself. BUT NOT I! I AM A MAN OF RISK! And with risk comes great reward.
He calls.
Flips over something like A7-A10, or something of that sort, and my hand does not get any better as the community cards come.
My blind steal fails and I finish the tournament out of the money.
So really, when should I steal?
Should I steal with the 9 6 suited, but with a raise of 3x the BB?
Should I steal with J10 suited, how about J10 unsuited?
Should I steal with any ace? Should I ever steal from the cut-off? Should I still steal when I have no information? Should I steal with A9/A10 when there is a guy who is guaranteed to play back at me?
So many questions, and in advance I appreciate everyones advice.
I am typically a player who abides by this rule of succeeding in tournament poker and therefore, when I feel the time is right, I make a move on the blinds. But, in there lies the problem, as maybe I don't know when the time is right.
Often times I have gotten myself involved in blind stealing/re-stealing hands where I look back and say how did that become such a big pot and why am I on the losing end?
For example.. I will not use hand history here due to me being a little lazy. Yesterday I was in the $4 rush tournament and had a smaller than medium sized stack with the blinds being high enough that a steal would plump me up a bit. I held 9 6 suited on the button and my HUD told me there were two very tight players in the blinds, with medium stacks! BINGO! Right?
Well, not so much. After some time deliberating whether I should raise it 2.5x the BB, or 3x the BB, I decide the best move here might be to simply push all-in. The reasoning being that I really don't want to raise 3x the BB and end up getting called just to be forced to check down and be left with a small stack, so I put the pressure on these nits. AGGRESSION.
The small blind quickly folds and the clock is on the BB, who as the time ticks down can either be surfing the net and forgot he had a game running, or deliberating whether or not this moment is really worth it.
My thoughts at the time; there is no way he can call me here because he himself does not want to risk his tournament life on a silly blind battle, especially not a nitty man as himself. BUT NOT I! I AM A MAN OF RISK! And with risk comes great reward.
He calls.
Flips over something like A7-A10, or something of that sort, and my hand does not get any better as the community cards come.
My blind steal fails and I finish the tournament out of the money.
So really, when should I steal?
Should I steal with the 9 6 suited, but with a raise of 3x the BB?
Should I steal with J10 suited, how about J10 unsuited?
Should I steal with any ace? Should I ever steal from the cut-off? Should I still steal when I have no information? Should I steal with A9/A10 when there is a guy who is guaranteed to play back at me?
So many questions, and in advance I appreciate everyones advice.