Those low cards that hit the flop are not likely to have helped anyone who limped in, but maybe they gave you 2 pair or a straight. Think about it…you limped from the SB, so the rest of the table has no idea what you are holding. Since you are first to act, you are making the other players react to your play. The other way to play it is to come out betting. You can check the flop to either give the table a sense of security or to see if/how much the other players bet and decide whether or not to fold. If the table is limping, I will often limp from the SB with any 2 cards (though I prefer connectors), and see what the flop gives me, since I already have chips in the pot. I’ll probably get roasted for this, but I am going to assume that some of the readers here don’t raise often or much preflop, since that is often what I see at tables. But if you are on a draw, consider a small blocking bet that will build the pot and discourage raises so you can control the hand to the extent the other players allow you to.īasically, I don’t play the SB unless I have very good cards, or the table is short handed, or both. If they do bet, and you have something you can always call or raise, of course. It can be better to raise out of position and steal smaller pot than to check and be bet off the hand by someone acting later. This works well if you are confident that you hit the flop and are likely ahead, but can expect an opponent to bet on this street. You can also try feigning passive, and check-raise. It’s best to bet early, close the hand quick, and take a smaller pot.

If you’re holding a top 15% hand, I think you can raise, and raise big if there are a lot of people still in the hand.įrom early position, raises will be less profitable because players behind you will get out of the way more often, or when they do call, they’ll have something and you may lose the hand. While positioning is important, the cards you’re holding are also important. Whether you are bluffing or have cards, denying the BB a free flop is often profitable. As you’ve found, when isolated against the BB, it can be a good strategy to raise and steal the blinds. Position matters, but as fewer people remain in the game, it becomes less important.

I sb poker the same as