How to play your bigblinds in a tourny

I always have some issues with my bigblinds.
I can really get pissed when I play tournaments and Mr. BIGstack is trying to steal everything I have. So I started some seeking and I have posted here what I have found and what my own opinion about it is. I hope you will all can get some advantage of it.




Well the bigblinds.............

Maybe you havent noticed, but whenever theres a big stack at the table u KNOW and condemn that he wont be making it to the FT.
Do u know why? Because they're splashers...
These are the ones u will steal from when the blinds hit the rim of 250/500 + +

CALLING:
At these blinds(250/500+) u will ONLY call 1/6 hands unless u have ur butt full of gold and hit pockets every hand (22 doesnt count, refering to the 34s is a huge fav against that hand)
AJ+ is a good hand to either go all in, or back off.
I know i play ALOT better when im shortstacked, cause then theres just two options: either u shuv it, or play texasFOLD'em.
+ Theres always some HUGEstack that messes with the avg. stack so as long as u have atleast 5xBB on a 9-handed u'll be okay, hence to the 1/6 calling strat.

When the big stacks call ur 55+ pockets/AJ+ they usually have rags like T8o or something hoping to hit and knock you out, but have no fear - if they do, the site is rigged


The 1/6 calling strat. is something i got from a friend, but ur strat. can differ.
- By calling as little as possible, ignoring the T9, JT, QJ, KJ-- hands ull be allright statisticly speaking.
1/10 is also okay, but if ur in a good pos. with crap + no callers behind u, u might aswell shuv it on the T9 + hands in hope of stealing some blinds or maybe get as lucky as Brad pitt (refering to Angelina)

Hope u try out my tac. And Good luck...
(1st try to make some sort of strat. forumpost, hope i didnt make too much of a fool out of myself : )

[germanfalcon]

Just some comments about your article:
-22 vs 34s is a coinflip with a slightly advantage for 22, chance of winning is 48,5% vs 47,6% but half of the times you would have a split pot. Higher suited connectors are a slightly favorite over 22. E.g. 22 vs 9Ts 45,6% vs 52,6% and also nearly half a chance for a split pot.

-With 5BB you are in the red zone. In tourneys you dont calculate with BB you calculate with your M (look it up in Harrington). M is the cost of one Orbit and includes BB, SB and the antes.

Green Zone - M of 20 of more. Plenty of chips and thus maximum flexibility in your play.
Yellow Zone - M between 10 and 20. Harrington suggests playing looser and more aggressively to stop the blinds catching up with you. He also warns against playing hands like small pairs and suited connectors.
Orange Zone - M between 6 and 10. Have lost the ability to resteal and must play very aggressively to have any chance of staying alive.
Red Zone - M of 5 or less. Your only move is now all in, have lost any chance of playing post flop poker.
Dead Zone - M of less than 1. Not much to say about this one really - you are pretty much, well, dead!

-Calling in the BB with a marginal stack is no good idea. Wether I fold or raise, remember you are OOP on the flop and later streets. With a marginal stack you cant play stop&go here (most times I would say). Always have a look at the pot odds and be aware of your image at the table and if the other regcognize your image.

-Most times its better to make a resteal in position instead of defending you Blind OOP

Hmmm. .stealing the BB isnt uncommon , specially from the Biggie holding the BIG CHIPS . Thats common logical strategized play , stealing the BB's .
What you CAN do is :
1) Play a little tight , and suddenly come up with a bluff raise
2) Confuse and target the 'Biggie". He's gonna be calling every hand . So you do get a chance try and bluff him , try n steal his chips
3) This isn't easy , so you have to confuse him. Make bluff raises once in a while, and then reveal your hand. and when you really get the good hands make sure he's in the pot with you. Its all practice and experience. It'll come to you.

So GL then and you may say :

"Hey , my stacks bigger than yours now ! "

[greywind50]

One advantage the big blind has pre-flop is he is last to act. If there are few opps and all limping it seems like a good time to bluff; or if there is only one other better or limper it seems like you can play alot more hands as you are now heads up. As the first to act you get to misrepresent alot of flops; if you check he bets and then where are you? So call or bet from the big blind with the intention of betting the flop.

[decker]

If the same player keeps stealing blinds, then raise him when you get a decent hand. You will most likely be the favorite if he calls or even if he re-raises because his has been raising with bogus hands in general...Gotta take a stand sometimes.