Poker News

Tom Leonard

Continuing to hunt out weaknesses that occur with surprising frequency in many a player’s game, let’s examine what is almost an obsession with some players- always defending their blinds. Some players feel that they will be regarded as wimps if they allow themselves to be pushed off their blinds. Many of them also feel that they are part way inanyway and know that any two cards can win in Hold’em. Therefore, their caveat seems to be “What the hay–always defend!” What utter nonsense this approach is to handling your blinds.

There are obsessive blind defenders as well as obsessive blind stealers. When you first sit down, it’s a good idea to let your cards dictate your play until you can get a bead on your opponents. First, determine if there is any “obsessiveness” out there.

What amazes me is that even if you know that your opponent on the button is attempting to steal your blind, how can you defend it with a 3-8 offsuit? Yet, I see players who simply will not muck a hand in the blind. Calling a raise is just crazy in this circumstance.

Hell, if you know that the button has larceny in his heart and is just trying to steal, then play back at him and bet any flop. That will at least give this blind thief pause when his next opportunity to attack your blind arises. Folding junk is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign solid discipline Don’t let that macho/ego demon get in the way of sanity. Trust me, constantly defending your blind with weak holdings is detrimental to your bankroll.

Demonstrating discipline in this situation will gain you two things. First, you’ll save the chips that would have, in all likelihood, been lost in a losing effort and second, you’ll encourage the “stealer” to believe he can make you fold with a raise and he will begin lowering his standards because he now knows what a pushover you are. Maybe next time you’ll be holding something that will warrant playing back at him or smooth calling to trap him for multiple bets later.

So, our goal for this outing is simply to not feel compelled to defend our blind just because we’re already involved. For those of you that habitually defend virtually every blind, let me refer you to a previous article wherein I suggested tracking the results of changed behavior for a dozen sessions.

This method is an excellent way to demonstrate that your new modified behavior will actually pay off. Pay off in what matters most–more chips!! Every time you’re in the blind and it is raised, stop and evaluate if your hand is really worth defending If you hesitate an instant for this analysis, then you are less likely to let that macho/ego demon take hold of your play. After you muck your junk, pay attention to the game and count the pot, how many bets you would have contributed and see if after a dozen or so sessions you would be chips ahead or not.

Now I know that someone will run into the situation of mucking his 3-8 only to flop a monster to win a nice pot and grumble that he should have been in there. This too is nonsense. Remember that statistically this sampling is much too small. I’m asking you to modify your behavior for a dozen hands to demonstrate that this improved mode of play will yield positive results. Those monster flops are such long shots that they really need to be discounted for this exercise. Over time, as you approach the long run, those saved bets that you earn by not just arbitrarily defending your blind will add up.

Add up to additional money in your pocket!

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