Part: Part Eleven - Short Tables

Short-handed blind battle

Pre-flop
4-handed • Blinds 400 / 800Pot 1,200 (1.5 BB)SBK♠5♣● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUfolded to you, blind vs blindBB● 20,000 (25 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

Four-handed, it folds to you in the small blind, heads-up against the big blind, with K♠5♣.

Folded to you in the SB, blind vs blind, with K♠5♣. Best?

WhyRaise first-in. Heads-up against a single opponent, K-5 offsuit is well above average and you should apply pressure. Limping lets the big blind see a cheap flop in position; raising takes the pot often and builds it when called.
What happensYou raise; the big blind folds.  Raise wide blind-vs-blind.
Blind versus blind, with one opponent and wide ranges, you raise first-in with a wide range - K-5 offsuit is plenty, and limping surrenders the initiative.

Blind versus blind, raise first-in with a wide range - one opponent means most hands are strong enough to apply pressure.