Completing from the Small Blind |
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Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:44 pm GMT by aaronw
I believe that I am completing too much from the small blind. What guidelines do you use when in the small blind when deciding if to complete or not? Also, what percentage of the time is completing from the small blind good? Is completing 50% of the time good? how about 25%? Thanks.
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Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:12 pm GMT by zinn0
I'm not sure what % is good, and I can honestly say completing from the SB is a big leak in my game.
I eagerly await everyones response.
Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:43 pm GMT by Icec0o1
I'm fairly tight when it comes to sb...I only call with suited connectors, small pocket pairs, suited one gappers, QT/K9+. I still raise with AJ+...
Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:43 pm GMT by groton
i compete with basicly anything in a unraised hand
Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:44 pm GMT by Johny
It depends on how many players limped and the size of my stack.
If my stack isn't too small, where I should be pushing preflop or fold, I play any connected cards, suited or not. That includes one gapers. I play any pair and any two face cards.
Basically, I want to play cards that have potential.
Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:03 pm GMT by Tadzio
It depends on the type of player that's sitting to your left. If the BB is likely to raise, regardless of what he's holding, the completing in the SB is a bad idea.
Assuming the BB will never raise if you complete, it is mathematically correct to complete in the SB when your hand's odds to make the winning hand =
(3+(2x)) to 1
Where x = the number of limpers.
As a concrete example, consider this:
Conditions--
1) 0 limpers.
2) BB holds Any non-paired hand.
3) SB holds Any non-dominated hand.
4) BB can't raise.
In this situation, it is mostly correct to complete. Well, to be completely honest, it is only marginally incorrect to call when you're behind (as in AKs vs 32o, where 32o has a 30% chance to beat AKs). To determine if it's correct to complete, we have to know the odds of being dominated and what the odds are that our opponent has a made hand...
There's a 1 in 16 chance of being dealt a pocket pair, so regardless of what you're holding, it's marginally correct to complete about 93% of the time (assuming the BB will never raise). If there are limpers in the hand, it's even more correct to complete. In fact, if BB will never raise and there are 6 limpers, it is correct to complete with A2o even if you know someone is holding AA (if someone else has a 2, it's no longer correct, but it's hard to predict everything).
The more often BB will raise, the better your hand has to be to complete, but the pressure is decidedly less on you than it is on other limpers.
Personally, considering that you're always out of position when playing in the SB, I don't make my SB decisions any differently than I would if I was UTG. 'Course, if BB is super passive and there's 3+ limpers, I'd probably complete with just about anything... but you gotta know how the BB plays to make it a winning play.
Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:44 pm GMT by Jefecaminador
The reduced price for completing in the small blind is mostly going to be outwieghed by terrible position post-flop, and by the chance of the BB raising preflop. I wouldn't complete with any hand I wouldn't limp in with from late position. Obviously the more limpers are in the hand, the wider your hand selection can be. Basically what you're looking for is to flop 2 pair or trips and then check raise. Its pretty tough to build and win a big pot from the sb when everyone has limped in, so you don't have great implied odds on any hand you play. Completing everytime from the sb is a big waste of money.
Posted Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:50 pm GMT by crack
I think what also is important is the game and the structure.
My completing requirements are different in NLH to LH and Omaha.
I think SB compleition is a hidden leak in most people game, including my own. I have really started to address this over the last month though. I think SB completing is a bigger problem for people who get married to their hands.
A big trouble hand in the SB is top pair weak kicker hands such as A6 K8 etc. If you hit your TP you could be in trouble and have no position, making it even more difficult to play.
Another big leak I think is playing hands without odds. for example any two suited and flop a flush draw, someone bets the pot for example and you call. If the flush card hits your opponent will put you on it and now has the option to take a free river and get away from the pot.
My advice would be not to get married to those weak to medium hands from the SB. There is an advantage. For less observant players will just assume you complete from the SB all the time because either they do or havent seen you fold or have simply forgotten, giving you a good bluffing potential.
The odds from the SB are usually good, especially in unraised pots and multiple limpers, so just be careful, apart from that I think it's just down to experience and the way the table has been, coupled with all the usual factors in poker.
Posted Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:58 am GMT by MrDarling
As I am now experiencing with no limping holdem I do not complete hands I wouldn't normally raise or call a raise. Of course that said, if I have a semi decent hand and no raiser I might bet it and hope to steal the hand.
Of course ever so often, if I have close to nothing and no one limped in, I might limp in and try to steal it on the flop from BB
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