The biggest mistake you're making in the Small Blind
The Small Blind is the most misplayed position in poker according to bencb of Raise Your Edge
When it comes to playing first in from the Small Blind, most poker players are making big mistakes.
In fact, the Small Blind might actually be the most incorrectly played position at the table.
The single biggest mistake players make from this position is simple..
They're too hesitant to play hands when all other players fold.
Players will fold hands like T7o, J5o or 92s in the Small Blind, because they think they’re supposed to “play it safe”.
After all, what’s ½ a big blind lost in the grand scheme of things?
Now, normally the phrase “tight is right” is a mantra that you want to live by in poker, especially when starting out.
However, even if you’re a beginner, the small blind is the exception to this rule.
Limp in with weak hands
Think about it, we’re already investing ½ of a big blind preflop..
So when everyone else folds, we only need to pay another ½ of a big blind to see a flop.
Players in the Big Blind at low-mid stakes aren’t aggressive enough to punish you for doing this.
In fact over 70% of the time you’re likely to see a check-back.
This means that even with hands like J4o or 93s you can limp in and try to see a flop.
Facing a raise, you’ll want to start defending a little more carefully, since the Big Blind is likely to have something decent.
Players don't attack the Small Blind enough, so a raise instead of a check back does show strength.
Especially when your opponent raises to more than 3bb, it’s time to start folding your marginal and medium strength hands..
Only continuing with something that can hit a big flop.
Folding too much from the Small Blind can drastically hurt your winrate over the long term.
Every time you fold preflop, you lose ½ a big blind. Over 100 small blind situations, that’s 50bb lost!
Take a stab
Limp in preflop, see a cheap flop, and take a stab at it with a c-bet.
Oftentimes (especially at low stakes) your opponent will concede to your aggression and you’ll rake in more small pots.
If you play pretty tight from the Small Blind currently, start small and work your way up. You don’t have to jump straight into playing 85% of your hands from this position.
If you currently play 50%, start playing 55%, then 60% - increasing your range as you adjust.
As with heads up play, blind vs blind is a situation where we have to be playing wide ranges to maximize our profits.
Take advantage of weaker players in the big blind and play more hands from this position.
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