For the all in A8o in the BB I would just check, and all in if I had a raise from LJ and calls. UTG would be too tight to be profitable, in 6max I would understand it, but utg raising, he would call most of his hands, here the UTG villain called with such a hand, I suppose that the HUD gave information about how loose and agressive he was. So would it be better to check here with no info on the UTG villain? Or is it still better to all in here?
In my very short poker career one thing I've realized is that I hate defending the big blind. There's a good reason for that. I almost always lose too many chips doing so unless I get lucky (rarely happens) or am totally bluffing (which I seem to not be too bad at).
As an aside, I'm not sure if I missed this before but it seems the terminology has changed from regular/recreational players to thinking/weak players. I've seen a lot of discussion on Cardschat about luck and skill. I lost a big hand (and the tournament) today against a weak player and won a few against a thinking player, so it was a good day!
Anyway I feel a bit more confident defending the big blind after this lesson. Thanks Collin!
As an aside, I'm not sure if I missed this before but it seems the terminology has changed from regular/recreational players to thinking/weak players. I've seen a lot of discussion on Cardschat about luck and skill. I lost a big hand (and the tournament) today against a weak player and won a few against a thinking player, so it was a good day!
Anyway I feel a bit more confident defending the big blind after this lesson. Thanks Collin!
Finished day 26
It's important to define a big blind defense range and adapt it to the profile of the players at our table so as not to be exploited especially by the cuttoff and the button.
I think ATS plays an important role and helps us adapt this range.
Regarding the question of the quiz, in this spot the best decision is shove 22 on big blind against the button which raises because its open raise range is wide and we are less than 20 bb deep, so we have no depth for 3-bet light.
It's important to define a big blind defense range and adapt it to the profile of the players at our table so as not to be exploited especially by the cuttoff and the button.
I think ATS plays an important role and helps us adapt this range.
Regarding the question of the quiz, in this spot the best decision is shove 22 on big blind against the button which raises because its open raise range is wide and we are less than 20 bb deep, so we have no depth for 3-bet light.
A little while ago I didn't have this concept in mind, no, folding lots and lots of hands, folding a lot against the small, which fortunately I found out is a big mistake, we should take advantage of the discount we get to see the flop, that's why it's so important defend the BB, as I can't repeat it, another specular lesson, thank you very much guys!
26/30.
26/30.
I just realized in the game I was playing yesterday somebody went all-in for less than the minimum raise and then the original raiser went all-in for much more to try to isolate that player. Thanks to this video I now know that was an illegal move because he shouldn't have been able to open up betting again, he should have been able to just call or fold to the all-in player. I thought I knew all the rules of holdem but obviously not! I now can call them out next time. Also, I now know to defend the big blind much wider when late positions are the raisers.
Day 26 completed. I agree that defending the blind involves crucial strategic considerations. These variables undoubtedly influence the breadth of defense and the effectiveness of the overall strategy in a hand. Thank you for this lesson!
Day26. Defending the big blind is truly one of the trickiest topics in poker because it presents a constant dilemma: on one hand, you are playing out of position on every street, while on the other, you have excellent pot odds that compel you to call with a wider range.
I liked how Colin simply explained the fundamental principle: if you completely miss the flop and have neither a draw nor showdown value, there is no need to get fancy—the standard play is to check-fold. And when your stack drops to 20–25 BB, short-stack 3-bet shoves become an excellent defensive tool. Another great, practical lesson from CardsChat! The answer to the quiz is to shove all-in.
I liked how Colin simply explained the fundamental principle: if you completely miss the flop and have neither a draw nor showdown value, there is no need to get fancy—the standard play is to check-fold. And when your stack drops to 20–25 BB, short-stack 3-bet shoves become an excellent defensive tool. Another great, practical lesson from CardsChat! The answer to the quiz is to shove all-in.