Playing on big blind definitively is not a duck soup. As per statistics, it is the riskiest position at the poker table where players lose the most.
The small blind and big blind are places where the game is never easy. Playing on both these positions we face dilemmas many times. As per poker pro Ryan Fee, the first position is probably the hardest to master in No Limit Hold’em.
Fortunately, it does not mean that you are on the losing position if you play poker from the blinds. In this article, we are going to show you the best poker strategies to implement under this situation. These tips will guide you on the right track and help you play your best game on the big blind.
Why does everyone say that ‘blind’ is the worst position to play?
This is not an opinion, but a fact confirmed by the analysis of statistics from millions of hands. These showed that the small blind and the big blind are two positions where players lose the most. Why?
The major reason for that is – ego issue. These are the two positions on which we do not want to give away “our” blinds, often thinking that the opponents are trying to steal our chips.
When you forcibly throw the chips into the middle, you feel the need to play the hand. Often, however, you should not – blinds are no longer your chips, it is a fee for being on the table!
How bad is your situation when you play blinds?
Very unfavorable, primarily when someone previously raised. When you check blinds in this situation, you are often behind the opponent’s range. You might as well say that “you want to hit something on the flop.”
For example, when you check with 8 9 hole cards, you have to hit something like two eights, two nines, eights, nines, and maybe an open-ended draw to a straight, to have any chance of winning the hand at all.
Even if the straight draw comes in, it may turn out that the opponent is holding a higher one. Therefore, when playing in these positions, raise or call only if you are holding a solid starting hand. If your hand is weak, it’s better to fold and wait for the next game.
Is it essential that you try to defend the big blind against an aggressor from a late position?
It is quite hard unless you have figured out how your opponents play poker. In the early stages of a tournament, it is rarely worth defending the big blind at all – the only exception is if you have a hand that can catch a good flop. On further levels, when the blinds are higher, and you build a more conservative image, defending the big blind will become more legitimate.
At what point should you play all-in?
There are moments in tournaments where you have no choice – you have to play all-in with two cards. You are on BB, and you have ten big blinds. So what are you waiting for? You see the opponent who rises in late position. It can also be a bluff, so every two cards can be worth speculating. It is crucial at this moment to try to oppose – maybe you can force the aggressor to fold or double.
These basic strategies will definitely help you save money and ace your game when you play from the ‘blind’ position.