Playing the Blinds: Poker Blinds Strategy
by Bodog Poker | Jun 14 2010
Playing in the blinds in a poker game frequently gets a bad rap from
online poker players and it's easy to see why: you're forced to bet in on a pot and you're the first to take action in a hand. Players in the small and big blinds don't get a chance to observe how other players play their hands before making a move and they frequently feel as if they're playing blind. The fact is, though, that the blinds can actually offer players more options than they know.
It's best to think of the blinds as a place in which you can see the flop for a reduced amount of money. The nature of the blinds and the way they move through a table means that everyone is forced to play them so it's best to think of them as early position hands that you've paid less to play. By embracing this philosophy, you get a chance to legitimately play your hand versus bemoaning your fate. You should play the same cards you'd play if you were in the first position.
Players in the blind can best utilize their hands by choosing to play fairly conservatively. If there is no raise and you are holding pocket rockets, don't be afraid to push the action a bit. You may well be able to steal the blinds that you just put into play. You should only do this if you are absolutely sure of how others are playing. It's actually not uncommon to see
Learn how to play pokerIf the action rolls over to you and there have been two or more bets and you're in the big blind, then you should only seriously consider playing A-A, K-K, Q-Q and A-K and just fold everything else. If you do play these hands to two bets, consider re-raising them to maximize the payout you're aiming for, but you need to be mindful of what cards should and shouldn't be played from your position.
You have to be careful and ensure that you do not play too many hands from the blinds: you do not want to lose the ground that you've gained by being a strategic player when it comes to the blinds. Every hand in poker is different and by taking the time to process the game around you, you can use the blinds to your advantage.
Understanding hand selection strategy and playing well in relation to the button is a cornerstone of poker play, especially for those who are new to the game and need to have the fundamentals reinforced. Take the time to understand the power and value of each position and you'll be able to save chips by not playing borderline hands and you'll get the foundation for a solid
poker strategy that you can take to online poker and real-world games as well.
For a more in-depth look at the game, download the free
poker guide Bodog's Secrets To Online Poker.
