Part: Part Five - Betting Before the Flop
Defending the big blind
Pre-flop
A button player opens small, to 400 (a min-raise). You're in the big blind with Q♦9♦ and only need to call 200 more into a 600 pot.
Button min-raises to 400 (2 BB); you hold Q♦9♦ in the BB, getting a great price. Best?
WhyCall. Against a wide button steal and a cheap price (you close the action getting better than 3-to-1), Q-9 suited is well inside a profitable big-blind defense range. Folding hands this playable to a min-raise lets the button run you over.
What happensYou call. Heads-up to the flop. Pot: 900 (4.5 BB).
Flop
Flop Q♠ 6♣ 2♥ - you flop top pair. You check, and the button checks back.
You flop top pair and he checks back the flop. On the turn, best line?
WhyLead the turn for value. His flop check-back caps him at a weak or medium hand, and your top pair is ahead - betting the turn gets value from worse pairs and draws rather than letting the hand check down.
What happensYou bet the turn; he calls a worse queen, the river bricks, and your top pair holds. You win.
You defended a suited, connected hand against a cheap button steal, flopped top pair, and led for value once his check-back showed weakness. Profitable blind defense is half of beating aggressive stealers.
Defend the big blind wide against cheap late-position steals - the price and your closing position justify calling many playable hands.