Playing Against Friends

October 26, 2005

The goal of the big blind is to avoid these decisions by maximizing the likelihood of being ahead after the flop. Hands such as 76s remain playable for three reasons: variance of play, straight potential, and flush potential. If the big blind decides to stick it out but competes against a better Ultimatebet hand, it will be charged the maximum. If the big blind passively checks and calls, the price is valuable free cards and lost pots to a hand that would have folded on the turn. If the big blind gives up too often, it could be costly.

In conclusion, it is clear that bluffs and semibluffs are far more successful against only one Ultimatebet opponent. In fact, the increased EV from bluffs and semibluffs is worth as much as the cost of a reraise preflop if the opponent is relatively tight post-flop. So far, the evidence seems to suggest reraising rather than calling in the small blind. But, there is more information to consider.

"The seventy-five entrants in the big event are all mental athletes of exceptional ability, the fine tip of the pyramid of well over fifty million players. But they are not much to look at: mostly middle-aged and overweight, with sallow, pouchy faces, bloodshot eyes, nicotine-stained fingers, five-o'clock shadow." He's writing about our legendary players, pointing out just some of their flaws and humanity. But does that diminish from their poker skills? Of course not.

Ultimatebet Showdown

As a big blind, you do not care what "should" happen. Nor should it concern you that the small blind did not have a playable Ultimatebet hand. The only important items are (a) the skill of the button player, (b) the likely raising hands from the button, and (c) the pot odds you are receiving. In both (a) and (b), there is no difference from the heads-up example. However, the pot odds have increased. It is straightforward that you should play more hands out of your big blind since the pot size has increased for your call.

Getting the money in early with the best hand will help to mitigate your positional disadvantage to some degree. But the best reason to stay aggressive may be intimidation. If you can scare your Ultimatebet opponent into slowing down, you will begin to win the blinds for free, and you will not be forced to play at a disadvantage so often. In other words, you want your opponent to stop raising your blinds. So snarl (metaphorically) and attack back! Until next time, good luck!

So, he must steal the blinds only 50% of the time to earn immediate profit (assuming no raising and all things are equal postflop). If the big blind folds too often, the small blind would earn a significant profit by raising 100% of the time preflop. In fact, since the small blind would also win some hands after the flop, the fold percentage required for profit is far less. In other words, blind stealing works incredibly well!

I could have continued to read about the weekend's NFL games, playing Ultimatebet poker with half effort. Instead, the cutoff angrily typed into the chat box, using derogatory language. Most players have seen the behavior a thousand times, but it is often dismissed as "part of the game" and simple rudeness. It is also unprofitable. I decided my opponent was correct. I needed to pay more attention to the poker game, so I did.

Online players (including a lot of professionals) sometimes play two or three 10-handed Ultimatebet games at the same time because they can win by simply using a straightforward, tight strategy. The same decisions come up repeatedly, and straightforward play takes the cash. These professionals win even though they don't know the tendencies of each player because the advantage of knowing each players tendencies is reduced.