Part: Part Eleven - Short Tables

Defend the blind wider

Pre-flop
4-handed • Blinds 400 / 800Pot 2,000 (2.5 BB)BBQ♠8♦● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUto actBTN● 20,000 (25 BB)Buttonraises 1,600 (2 BB)SBfoldsD

Four-handed. The button min-raises to 1,600 and you're in the big blind with Q♠8♦, getting a great price to call.

Four-handed, button min-raises; you hold Q♠8♦ in the BB. Best?

WhyCall. Against a wide short-handed button steal and a cheap price (you close the action getting better than 3-to-1), Q-8 offsuit is well inside a profitable big-blind defense. Folding hands this playable lets the button run you over.
What happensYou call.  Wide defense against a cheap steal.
Short-handed you defend the big blind far wider, because the stealer's range is wide and the price is good. Folding too much hands the button free chips.

Defend the big blind wider short-handed - wide steal ranges and good prices make many hands profitable calls.