Poker: Playing the big blind

[QuikSand]

Playing low-limit hold 'em online, I'm finding that the crowds are deeply and predictably loose-passive. That's great - bigger pots for me when I have strong cards, suits me just fine.

I am finding myself frequently sitting on the big blind with "borderline" cards - with several players in, but no raises. Now, I think I have a pretty good idea what to do with very strong cards (the ordinary raising cards), and I know what to do with total junk. It's the stuff in between... when does it make sense to raise?

For example:

-low pairs?

-AX unsuited?

-Kx or Qx suited?

-lower suited connectors?

If I read the table correctly that most of the limpers will stay in for one more bet, and that the likelihood of a reraise is pretty low... what is the "book" play on these situations? Any thoughts?

[QuikSand]

Real example - happened since I posted this thread, actually.

I am BB, get dealt 97s. Get three callers, no raises. I call.

Turns out I won the hand, as the table came up 3-6-9--3--2, with no flush chances. I bet it pretty heavily, and did well on the hand as is... but should I have raised with that on the BB?

My thinking is that with a draw hand like that, I just want to call. Get to see cards for free (to know if I have anything) and then will have more information when I bet again - and if I am making my straight or flush, I want a large field to soak. Sound right for that case?

[TredWel]

I only raise out of the BB with high pocket pairs, maybe AKs if table conditions are right. Two reasons:

1. I most likely have the best hand at the table at that moment, since nobody has raised. A good percentage of people playing low-limit almost feel compelled to see the flop after putting in just one bet, no matter how crazy the action gets after they have limped in. I don't want to increase the pot unless I am fairly confident that I have the best hand.

2. A good amount of low limit players are deathly afraid of raising the pot pre-flop. As such, I have seen time and time again where they just limp in with QQ, AJ, KQs, or other strong holdings that should be raised. With the possibilty that my hand may not be the best drawing hand, I don't want to increase the stakes until I see that the flop has made me the best draw.

Because of point #2, I wouldn't raise in the BB in the example you give. 97s is a good hand, but I wouldn't feel confident enough that it was the best draw, even with only three limpers, to make it two bets.

[Radii]

My gut feeling would have been not to raise. But I am a more conservative player. In very loose games where I know my raises are not going to scare anyone off, I tend to be more passive myself pre-flop(this is a part of my game I need to work on the most I think). However, in the style of game you're talking about, i understand the theory.

What about going by Abdul's pre-flop strategy guide?

http://www.posev.com/poker/holdem/strategy/preflop-abdul.html


Towards the bottom of that page is a section called "Defending the big blind"


After limpers, raising in the big blind gives away
information, but a raise often can buy you the pot by the turn if
the game is not too loose, as your opponents will often put you
on AA or KK. You can raise fairly liberally in the big blind versus
loose limpers, with 88/JTs/KQ and up, possibly a bit weaker.
Versus tight limpers, you have to be sure your hand is best.


I would say there the key being "You can raise fairly liberally in the big blind versus loose limpers, with 88/JTs/KQ and up, possibly a bit weaker."


If you've read Sklansky/Malmuth's "Hold Em for Advanced Players", it's interesting to read the very end of that page where Abdul talks about the differences in his poker strategy/philosophy compared to Sklansky/Malmuth...


I own a copy of Lee Jones "Winning Low Limit Hold Em" which was a quick and very easy read, but i've loaned it to a friend. I'll ask if he can bring it by and see what he advocates doing from the big blind, which will hopefully be useful as his book is written specifically for the typical loose - usually passive low limit game.

[QuikSand]

I have the Lee Jones book in the house as well... I can look this point up, too. Generally, Abdul's threshholds make sense to me... I'm not too worried about giving "information" in these ring games. No more than 1 in 5 opponents would know what to do with information even if they got it.

[Vegas Vic]

Generally, I will raise out of the big blind under the following conditions:

If there are 5 or 6 limpers, I will often raise with suited connectors, Ax suited, or any pocket pair. The pot odds justify this, and if you hit the flop, you will take down a nice pot much of the time. Unfortunately, you can't look forward to getting a free card on the flop because you will be in early position to act.

As for big pairs and AK unsuited, I will play these somewhat differently in the big blind. If there was an early limper and several callers, I will frequently check instead of raising. If there are only a couple of late limpers, I will raise and try to take them out immediately on the flop.

I'm also a big proponent of not always open raising with AA or KK in early position. I raise about 75% of the time and limp in the other 25%. If it's raised down the line, I now have the option to 3-bet it. If it's not raised, then the hand is somewhat disquised going into the flop. On occasion, (about 10%), I will open raise with a hand like 8-7 suited, just to mix it up a bit. If you only raise with high pairs, your more observant opponents will pick up on that.