Author -> Master-Texasholdem -> 7/11/07

How to play them blinds!

Giving away you chips may seem tough but its something you have to deal with, players in the blind position often get bullied out due to their poor position. This article will show you some techniques on how and when to protect or fold those blinds.

Without blinds in Texas Hold Em there wouldn't be much point in betting first and especially big! Since most players would just fold and you would win no money. Blinds are an incentive for the players to get involved in the hand. The preflop betting round is usually a battle to win the blinds, as more people get involved in the hand the stakes and the pot go up. This is what makes texas hold em such an exciting game

Key Blind Plays

You need to remember one simple fact when playing from the blinds, you WILL lose money overall from the blinds position. The idea here is too reduce that amount, it's not about trying to win money overall from the blinds as that's simply not going to happen.

The most common piece of blind play is the typical raise from the player on the button. You will see this a lot since the button player is in such a good position to steal your blinds or entice you into a pot that you shouldn't be in.

For example you post the big blind of $30 and everyone folds round to the button, the button raises to $90. This small blind then throws his $15 and folds, now you have a decision to make!

This decision cannot just be spelt out as it depends on how you feel about the player and the cards in your hand. For example if the player has been regularly raising you on this position then he may possibly be playing this tactic without a good hand hoping that you will fold to his raise. If this is so then you may be able to start playing this hand out more aggressively as a scare tactic.

Generally you need to decide on a game plan, will you call to see if you can hit something on the flop? remember you still have a lot of rounds of betting to go in a bad position before you see some chips so be prepared to fold is you see nothing on the flop. The other option is the re-raise, this tactic can work very well since it is the least expected move and can cause a fold from a worried player. This tactic should be kept to a minimum since over use will show players then reacting by re-raising or all-ins.

Picking your spots

Basically you need to play your blinds sometimes to avoid been raised by the button every time. It would be nice to say try play out the blinds around every 1 in 3 times. This wont always be the case since a lot depends on what you get dealt and how the other players have played the hand.

The guide i personally use is as follows;

1. Big Pair or A-K, A-Q suited
This is the perfect hand to receive on the blind, i would always raise on this hand. This works out even better if you can finish the hand before having to show your cards.

2. Big card with small kicker
I would nearly always fold a hand like this from the blind. If you play a A-4 or K-6 and either of the big cards come out on the flop you cards are not worth much since a higher kicker makes your hands worthless.

3. Random flush/straight hands
These cards are much more likely to mix it up a bit and win some hands off the blinds. For example if the button raises you with a A-10 and you decide to call with a 7-9 suited and the flop comes out 9-8-2 then you are if a good position since you have high pair and you also have the added bonus of the other player thinking you have nothing because surely you wouldnt raise/call with any of those cards!