Stealing blinds. How do you handle it?

[Aequitas58]

You are doing a disservice to your tournament game if you are only stealing from late position. One of my favorite plays is the UTG blind steal. Sometimes, w/ trash.

It all depends, especially with tournament poker.

[Penguinfan]

I certainaly agree with that statement, I was more concerned with the exact situation of it folding all the way to the button.

[Aequitas58]

Well, it's important to take into account how your stack compares to the blinds and antes. If you aren't comfortable, you have to consider stealing. You should also consider stealing as a larger stack "leaning" on the smaller stacks.

I suggest reviewing Dan Harrington's "M" values explained in his book, Harrington on Hold'Em Vol. 2. He directly addresses this question and raises interesting situations. HOH v.2 is my second favorite book.

GL.

[Zybomb]

Greg Raymer said UTG was his favorite steal position...... there is a big * with this though. That is, that you must be sitting at a table where players respect a UTG raise... if non aware players treat it the same as any other raise (and treat their positioning the same as any other) this move is foolish and costly... also if you begin raising UTG more than 1 or 2 times every 5 or so, people are gunna start raising eyebrows.... and theres a lot of hands still available to come into the pot...

[Talking Poker]

Agreed. I find that the UTG steal works best late in a tourney. Try it early on or at the average table full of donkeys, and 5 callers later, you'll be wishing you didn't.

[Penguinfan]

LOL.