Sit 'n' Go Stealing in the Small Blind

If you have played much limit holdem in a ring game, then you likely understand the concept of chip leakage. Since, the margin of profit in limit is so thin, or net big bets won so few, players continually scour their games seeking to plug any leaks. Leaks are those recurring technical errors and mistakes that lose, or leak, chips. Leaks steadily erode a player's profit.

The concept of leaks also applies to playing in a turbo sit n go holdem single table tournament (Turbo STT). Except that the consequence of tournament leaks is different, and more severe. In a ring game, leaks will cost you some, perhaps all, of your profit.

In a Turbo STT, leaks can result in becoming short stacked, in diminished fold equity, and potentially in elimination. At the least, leaks can make your tournament much more difficult because of the resultant pressure of playing with a smaller stack.

The issue of tournament leaks is especially critical in a Turbo STT. This is because there is not enough time and the blinds rise too quickly to also overcome the leakage. Hence, the hallmark of the multi-tabling shark, for example, is conservatism.

For these exceptionally tight players, practically any risk is a form of leakage. So, you will not often see them completing the small blind, calling a raise, or limping from out of position. Especially so during full table play, when there is more competition, which increases risk.

So, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with the small blind?

First, let me make one more important point. In a Turbo STT, missed opportunities to accumulate chips are also a form of leakage. Now, here is the answer. Not stealing while in the small blind will represent lots of missed opportunities to accumulate chips.

Or, to paraphrase an old poker adage, the concept is this: chips not stolen, are the same as chips leaked.

Following then, are some suggestions for stealing in the small blind.

These suggestions will only apply during full table play while the big blind amount is less meaningful, say 100 or fewer chips. Once the table begins to thin, and the blinds become higher, the rules for stealing in the small blind will change. For example, push-or-fold will eventually become the preferred stealing option.

In this discussion, we are only focusing on the general objective of safely accumulating small amounts of chips early in the tournament. This article then, is about only one of the several methods for early chip accumulation in a Turbo STT.

 

First, some important considerations:

1. If you do not hold a premium hand, only consider completing the small blind when the table has folded around to you. Meaning that when stealing, you will be confronting only the player in the big blind.
   
   
2. Since it is early in the tournament, you may not have a good read of your opponent. Therefore, you will have to be guided almost exclusively by the big blind's actions and reactions.
   
   
3. Consider the perspective of the big blind. When you open the betting from the small blind, he will feel personally challenged. This has become after all, an one-on-one confrontation.
   
   
4. If he thinks you to be a tight player, he will initially think that you have a decent hand.
   
   
5. If he thinks you to be a loose player, he will probably be expecting a bluff attempt.
   
   
6. If he is a very tight or timid player, he will likely always give you credit for having a better hand, regardless of his perception of your playing style.
   
   
7. If he is an experienced player, he will know that he enjoys an advantage, since he will be the last to act on every street.
   
   
8. Don't conclude that you can steal the blinds with the same level of impunity as does the button. Just because the big blind may always surrender to a button steal, does not mean that he will treat your steal the same way. There is a major difference. When the button steals, the button will be the last to act. When you steal, the big blind will be the last to act. The big blind is thus weak against the button, but is strong against the small blind.

 

Here are some reasons why the small blind can steal from the big blind:

1. Usually, neither the small blind nor the big blind will hold a decent starting hand. And usually, neither will connect with the flop. Consequently, the aggressor will usually prevail.
   
   
2. Usually, any aggressor from an early table position is perceived to be holding a strong hand.
   
   
3. When the steal occurs during the tournament's first few rounds, the blinds are so small relative to the starting stack size that many players do not view the blinds as worth the risk of a fight.
   
   
4. And if early, the big blind likely does not yet have enough information or confidence to play hard against an unknown opponent.

 

The safest formula for stealing in the small blind:

The safest, most conservative formula for stealing in the small blind is to complete-check-bet. Assuming that you hold any two cards and do not help your hand, the steal proceeds like this:

Pre-Flop -

• Complete the small blind.
• If big blind raises, fold.

Flop -

• If big blind checked pre-flop, then check the flop. (A common variation would be to bet the flop. Switching between these two options, could keep the big blind off balance in later steal attempts.)
• If big blind bets the flop, fold.

Turn -

• If big blind checked the flop, then bet the turn. (Say, around a 1/2 pot size bet.)
• If big blind raises your turn bet, fold.

River -

• If big blind called your turn bet, then check the river.
• If big blind bets the river, fold.
• If big blind checks the river, hope to win the showdown.

Even if you lose the showdown, you have gained valuable information. You now know the big blind to be either sneaky, conservative, or a wimp. Good ammo for the next encounter.

This formula is a small ball approach that can be used at any level of the Turbo STT, except in heads-up play where the small blind is also the button. Bets and raises can be added in accord with the situation and your style, but there will be an increase in risk.

Thus, these words of caution.

Stealing in the small blind requires lots of discipline. Be careful to not get out of line, and to not over-play your bluff. As they say, don't get broke on a bluff.

Remember, in this scenario we are cautiously plotting to win only a few chips with a naked bluff from out of position. So, avoid the heroics. Just keep the pot small, and be ready to walk away from the hand if you meet resistance.

Also, be aware that in a one-on-one contest, it is easy for your emotions to spiral. If you are forced to fold or lose a big pot, your ego might get bruised. Then, you could find yourself seeking revenge, or pressing slim margins to recover your lost chips.

On the other hand, if you are the one to force the fold, you might become overconfident. So, monitor your feelings, and diffuse any emotions quickly.

And, be cognizant that with either outcome (win or lose), you have either established, reinforced, or altered your table image. Something that you may be able to exploit in the very next hand.

 

 

A riskier formula for stealing in the small blind:

While you will not be risking many chips with the above formula, you also will not be giving yourself much leverage in forcing the big blind to fold. Generally, I prefer more punch to my actions. So, I lean towards this riskier formula:

1. Many on-line cardrooms offer three button choices to open the betting: MIN, for minimum raise; POT, for pot size raise; and, MAX, for pushing all-in. Early in the tournament, you should not be pushing without a premium hand. And, a minimum raise at a low big blind level may not have the desired affect of forcing a fold. However, I will often start with a min-raise, then increase to pot size for any subsequent steal opportunities.
   
   
2. You will have at most only three opportunities to steal in the small blind during the full table/low blind play. Since, those will require that the table has folded around to you, there will likely be fewer, perhaps no opportunities at all.
   
   
3. There is some logic behind the pot size bet. As the blinds increase, and as the big blind's temperature rises on account of your brashness, it will likely require successively larger bets to force the big blind to fold. The min-raise might do. But, if you use it every time, the big blind will catch on. If you switch from first a min-raise, then to pot size, you introduce a variation that creates uncertainty. And, the larger bet delivers any required persuasion.
   
   
4. If you are re-raised, the safest course of action is to fold. Even if you hold a legitimate hand. If you fold, do so very slowly. Because you do not want to appear to have been bluffing.
   
   
5. If your bet is called, then you will need to evaluate the situation and proceed cautiously. You can either check the flop, or continuation bet. While the c-bet gives you an opportunity to win right there, the check allows you to watch for strength, possibly avoid a trap, and bet the turn if the big blind also checks the flop. It is a judgment call.

In conclusion:

While in the small blind, if you frequently surrender the blinds to the big blind, then you are leaking a significant number of chips. Especially in a Turbo STT, where there are usually only a few opportunities to accumulate chips. Therefore, learning to steal in the small blind presents a potential opportunity in every round to accumulate a few chips.

Early in a tournament, conditions are most favorable for successful small blind steals. So, be ready.

It is never too early to start stealing.

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Copyright 2009  R. Steve McCollum

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