Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
A three BB raise is too common in other situations, so I would go for a 4 BB raise so that the players with the blinds really have to take a good look at their cards before deciding on either going or not to the game. We are talking in an equal or similar stack among players. Sometimes you will only provoke some fear on your opponents by going all-in, and doing that you can be risking more than you desire just for trying to rob some blinds. Always calculate the risk when you go for this activity. Note that people can find your trick if you do it always from the same position...
Joined: Jan '10
Location: Indonesia
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 1875
My experience tell : that old strategy, not working well now, cause anyone know most player steal blind at that position ! many times I got called by BB with crap card like K7os, Depend on our stake also, of course. Dont steal at that position with poor stake, I suggest.
Please share your next experience about that, I want to know either
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Philippines
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 49
i only steal blinds if im in the CO or late position without a caller in front of me, then i shove at least 3BB bet. but sh*t cards on stealing the blinds won't work for me though
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
i kind of try to vary this, but from my own experiences found out that min raise works as fine as 3x and any other sizes. especially when blinds are big and you are near the bubble- people usually will fold to any raise or go over the top, when they have really good hands. and you risk less using min raise strategy
Joined: Feb '11
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 59 (M)
Posts: 5712
its a well documented strategy and yet one that can extend your tourney life if done well at the right time against the right opponent. be wary of the blinds trying to protect themselves by calling your steal which just might male you think againg, but be strong if you are stealing with good cards
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 3361
A lot of cases stealing blinds at 3x BB doesn't seem to fare well with a lot of the calling stations I see at least early stages in a lot of the MTT's or especially Freerolls. After a lot of the I guess donks / calling stations have been eliminated from the game as blinds go up it seems to be a bit more effective. Now I'm not that experienced so my input is probably not the best, but it is what I've noticed as I've became a bit better and more observant.
Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
It's important you raise the same whether you're stealing the blinds or betting Aces.... otherwise anyone paying attention will think "oh, he's bet 4bbs, he's stealing..."
3 bbs is standard for a reason - because it works. And personally, I don't up my raise when the antes come in.... but that's totally down to your discretion.
Joined: Mar '11
Location: Germany
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 1242
Posted by Greenmohave: A lot of cases stealing blinds at 3x BB doesn't seem to fare well with a lot of the calling stations I see at least early stages in a lot of the MTT's or especially Freerolls. After a lot of the I guess donks / calling stations have been eliminated from the game as blinds go up it seems to be a bit more effective. Now I'm not that experienced so my input is probably not the best, but it is what I've noticed as I've became a bit better and more observant.
For sure you have to avoid stealing blinds with weaker hands early in a tourney because of these players. I won´t do it, too risky for a small reward. But it becomes more and more important to do it when blinds go up.
Joined: Apr '11
Location: Romania
Age: 58 (M)
Posts: 2432
The ratio of your stack to the blinds will permanently change in a tournament. That's why you need to adapt your game to the shifting circumstances in the tournament. At the beginning of the tournament you need to play different hands than those you play in the late stage. A good tournament player adapts to different situations and to the various stages of the tournament.
