My favorite moves: The Blindsmasher
The more I play poker, the more I learn about the power of position. Much of the increase I've seen in earnings in recent months has come from improving my understanding of the subtle nuances of it. Out of that improved understanding has come an increase in the frequency of my using my absolute favorite strategic move; all-in from the big blind when there are a lot of limpers in front. I call it "The Blindsmasher".
A year or so ago, we had a pretty steady 5-10 NLHE game in the casino where I deal. The first thing I noticed about that game was the aggression, especially from players in position. More often than not, pots were raised and re-raised; there was a flop significantly less than half the time. When a hand did finally make it to showdown, I was frequently amazed and amused to see the marginal (at best) cards they'd been raising with. This was a poker game!
There was one player I especially got a kick out of watching. He was an old guy, at least 80. who'd sit there with a big stogie in his hand, acting like he didn't know what was going on. He was absolutely fearless, and had no problem whatsoever shoving 'em all in the middle. There was one move he frequently made that I absolutely loved. Whenever he was on the big blind and there were a lot of limpers in front of him, he was very likely to shove all-in with any two cards. More often than not, everyone folded. When someone did call, he drew out on them with alarming regularity. While an astute player occasionally trapped him by limping a big pocket pair when he was on the big blind, it was clearly a profitable move for him.
The other players in the game definitely didn't like the move, they griped about it a lot, calling him a maniac, etc. Thing is, he wasn't. With the exception of that move, I don't think I ever saw him make a bluff. I soon realized that was helpful, too. That "Blindsmasher" so frustrated other players that they thought he was bluffing every time he put out a big bet. He got a lot of action from players saying things like "he can't have cards EVERY time he pulls that move", etc. They didn't seem to notice that this time, he wasn't on the big blind.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about that move, and even more experimenting with it. While I believe it's VERY effective once you understand the rationale behind it and the circumstances under which it should be used and the circumstances under which it should not, The true beauty of The Blindsmasher is that it's one of the most thrilling moves you can make. Win or lose, it leaves you with an amazing rush!
In my opinion, The Blindsmasher is a better tournament move than a cash game move, especially when you use it more than once. In a cash game, frustrated people can always rebuy, so they're more likely to call. In a tournament, it's all over when the chips are gone, and that makes people think twice about calling. Also, in a cash game, the risk/reward for a relatively small pot just isn't worth it. In a tournament, those small pots add up; snatching a few rounds of free blinds can be very helpful to your cause.
There are more benefits to The Blindsmasher than just the pots you pick up, though; especially if you're a tight player. Most other players at the table aren't really watching, or, if they are, aren't watching much. If they see one dramatic move, most players around you will see that move as your whole game. Nothing frustrates limpers more than when the big blind raises; they want to see a flop, they were almost there, and the big blind is SUPPOSED to check, for Christ's sake! In their minds, you become a maniac bluffer, ESPECIALLY if they see you do the move more than once. They will remember, and they will carry a grudge.
On one hand, this can hurt you, as the more often they see that move, the more likely they are to call with marginal hands. If you have a marginal hand yourself, you're liable to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar. On the other hand, when you're not in the big blind and catch a big hand, you can make a big raise or re-raise and many of your opponents will remember the times you did The Blindsmasher, not all the times you've folded, and give you action. I've had this happen a lot lately, with players commenting on how they were sure I was bluffing because of The Blindsmasher. They never made the correlation between that move and my being in the big blind.
Another benefit of The Blindsmasher comes into play when you catch a decent hand in the big blind. KQ, AJ, 88, etc. What do you do with those? If you raise and get called, you're out of position for the rest of the hand. If you check, you're letting all those limpers in and you have no idea what they might be holding. Unless you catch very lucky on the flop, you're going to have to risk a lot of chips trying to find out where you are in the hand, and may very well have to fold the best hand.
It's important to remember that, when you're in the the big blind, you're in the BEST position preflop, but TERRIBLE position postflop. If you just check the big blind when there are limpers in front, you aren't taking advantage of that position at all. By limping, your opponents are giving you a clear message: "I am not strong, but I hope to get strong on the flop". If you give them that flop for what they've chosen to invest in it, you're letting them outplay you before the flop. The only way to utilize the power of your preflop position is to set the price of the hand yourself; hopefully one so high that your opponents will surrender the pot to you right then and there.
Now many will question the all-in here. Why not just make a big raise? The answer is simple. After the flop, you are out of position against all but the small blind. The ONLY way to take advantage of the preflop positional advantage of being in the big blind is to NEGATE your opponents' positional advantage after the flop by removing ALL postflop decision-making. This is an all or nothing move. Very risky; VERY thrilling and, under the right conditions, VERY profitable.
The operative words there are: "under the right conditions". Utilized properly, The Blindsmasher is a very powerful weapon to have in your arsenal. One mistake, however, and you're screwed. Recognizing when conditions are favorable for The Blindsmasher, and when they aren't is absolutely essential to being successful with it. I've gone so far to make myself a "Pre-Blindsmasher checklist":
*** Did any of the first three players to act (early position) limp in?
If "yes", you CANNOT do the Blindsmasher. Players in early position who lack discipline and understanding of position frequently try to limp in with strong to medium-strong hands (AQ, AJ, KQ, medium pocket pairs, etc.) and will often be stubborn with them. Also, one very tricky way to play AA and KK from early position is to limp it in (The Stealth Monster), hoping for a raise. Never forget Rule of Aquisition # 82: BEWARE THE EARLY-POSITION LIMPER!
*** Do any of the players in the hand have you significantly covered (2:1 or better)?
If "yes", you CANNOT do the Blindsmasher. Players with big stacks (especially in low-buy-in online tournaments) are frequently willing to gamble, especially when they have money in the pot. Never forget Rule of Aquisition # 243: PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR BABIES OUT IN THE COLD.
*** Are there any "action" players in the hand?
If "yes", you SHOULD NOT do the Blindsmasher. These players LOVE to gamble. The thrill of being all-in is the best part of the game to them; they are more likely to call you than not. You can spot them by the number of times they're all-in. Their chipstack also usually goes up and down a lot.
*** Do any of the players in the hand have less than 10x CPR (Cost Per Round; the total of the blinds and antes, what it costs you to play a round of poker)?
If "yes", you SHOULD NOT do the Blindsmasher, UNLESS you have them covered by at least 4:1. If you do, and there are no other players with stacks near your size in the hand, you should think about doing it with any two cards. They MAY fold. If they don't, there's always Rule of Aquisition # 301: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, IMPLEMENT "PLAN B". Plan B is simple, you get lucky and suck out on them, and it's not as unlikely as it may seem. The sad thing about this game is that, if you match the best unpaired pocket cards, AKs heads up against the worst hand in poker, 72o, AKs is only a 1.5:1 favorite; 2 times out of 5, 72o will beat it. You can ALWAY get lucky. The trick is to put yourself in a position to get lucky, and to do so when luck is the backup plan, not "Plan A". If you bet or raise, making your opponent fold is "Plan A". It's the way to go. When you're calling, you're doing so based upon the strength of your cards, but preflop, even AA will lose 1 time in 5 all-in against a single opponent. You're gambling when you make that call, and you have to remember Rule of Aquisition # 115: "YOU'RE NEVER AS FAR AHEAD IN THE HAND AS YOU THINK YOU ARE."
*** Are there any tight-passive players in the hand?
If "yes", BE CAREFUL. These players pride themselves on being tricky, and love nothing better than busting the aggressive people who push them around on the poker table and in their lives. They hold grudges forever and will take HUGE risks to exact revenge. If they've EVER seen you make this move, they're likely to limp with a big hand in the hope that you will try it. The earlier the position of the tight-passive player in the hand, the more dangerous they are, and the more you should beware them.
*** Are there any calling stations in the hand?
If "yes", BE CAREFUL! These players HATE to lay down a hand, and are often likely to call any raise with any hand they'd limp in with.
*** Have you done The Blindsmasher recently?
If "yes", BE CAREFUL! Every time the players at your table see you do The Blindsmasher, the more likely they are to call you the next time you do it. Remember, this move frustrates the hell out of players, most of whom will only raise off the big blind with AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AKs, and they expect you to do the same. They HATE The Blindsmasher! Do it once, and they're all laying for you. Do it twice and they'll be PRAYING to catch any pocket pair or Ace-anything when you're in the big blind so they can bust you. The Blindsmasher is a move best used in moderation. Remember Rule of Aquisition #27: KNOCK ON A DORR OFTEN ENOUGH AND SOMEBODY"S GOING TO ANSWER IT.
*** Do you have more than 15x CPR?
If "yes", you have enough money to sucessfully make this move. The Blindsmasher is a smackdown. You have to have enough chips to make your opponents think twice about calling. If you're short-stacked, you should probably do The Blindsmasher anyway, there's some money in the pot and no one's shown any strength, but doing it under these conditions attracts a call, you're probably going to have to catch lucky to take it down. At least this way, you may fold out SOME of the limpers, and you'll have 5 cards to catch, not just 3.
*** Are there 4 or more limpers in the pot?
If "yes", you CAN do the Blindsmasher.
If "no", you might want to reconsider. While this may seem counter-intuitive, the more limpers there are, the more money there is in the pot. This is a VERY high-risk maneuver, the payoff has to be worth it. Also, with more people to act behind them, some players will be a bit more reluctant to call, as they still have the other players to deal with.
*** Do you have a medium-strength hand like AT, KJ, or 77?
If "yes", this is a GREAT time to do The Blindsmasher, UNLESS, one of the first three positions has limped in, and they are a player you think may be sophisticated enough to do The Stealth Monster (limp AA or KK), or they are a player you think may be undisciplined enough to limp a medium-strength hand in from early position and may get stubborn with it. AT doesn't play well against AJ; 77 SUCKS against 88.
Otherwise, though, this is a great opportunity to take what may very well be the best hand preflop and see it win. Those medium-strength hands are very vulnerable to the flop, and having to play them out of position after the flop just makes them even more so. What they DO offer is an excellent "backup plan" for The Blindsmasher. It's a move you make with any two cards; when you hold a medium-strength hand, you may very well be bluffing with the best hand.
You can also employ The Blindsmasher from the small blind, but there is the slight additional risk of not having any idea what the player in the big blind is holding. It will make this HIGH-RISK move just a bit riskier.
I have been experimenting with this move A LOT lately, and can tell you that virtually every time I've gotten hurt with it, it's been one of the "danger" conditions I've outlined above. Following the above checklist closely makes The Blindsmasher both a thrilling and profitable move.
A year or so ago, we had a pretty steady 5-10 NLHE game in the casino where I deal. The first thing I noticed about that game was the aggression, especially from players in position. More often than not, pots were raised and re-raised; there was a flop significantly less than half the time. When a hand did finally make it to showdown, I was frequently amazed and amused to see the marginal (at best) cards they'd been raising with. This was a poker game!
There was one player I especially got a kick out of watching. He was an old guy, at least 80. who'd sit there with a big stogie in his hand, acting like he didn't know what was going on. He was absolutely fearless, and had no problem whatsoever shoving 'em all in the middle. There was one move he frequently made that I absolutely loved. Whenever he was on the big blind and there were a lot of limpers in front of him, he was very likely to shove all-in with any two cards. More often than not, everyone folded. When someone did call, he drew out on them with alarming regularity. While an astute player occasionally trapped him by limping a big pocket pair when he was on the big blind, it was clearly a profitable move for him.
The other players in the game definitely didn't like the move, they griped about it a lot, calling him a maniac, etc. Thing is, he wasn't. With the exception of that move, I don't think I ever saw him make a bluff. I soon realized that was helpful, too. That "Blindsmasher" so frustrated other players that they thought he was bluffing every time he put out a big bet. He got a lot of action from players saying things like "he can't have cards EVERY time he pulls that move", etc. They didn't seem to notice that this time, he wasn't on the big blind.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about that move, and even more experimenting with it. While I believe it's VERY effective once you understand the rationale behind it and the circumstances under which it should be used and the circumstances under which it should not, The true beauty of The Blindsmasher is that it's one of the most thrilling moves you can make. Win or lose, it leaves you with an amazing rush!
In my opinion, The Blindsmasher is a better tournament move than a cash game move, especially when you use it more than once. In a cash game, frustrated people can always rebuy, so they're more likely to call. In a tournament, it's all over when the chips are gone, and that makes people think twice about calling. Also, in a cash game, the risk/reward for a relatively small pot just isn't worth it. In a tournament, those small pots add up; snatching a few rounds of free blinds can be very helpful to your cause.
There are more benefits to The Blindsmasher than just the pots you pick up, though; especially if you're a tight player. Most other players at the table aren't really watching, or, if they are, aren't watching much. If they see one dramatic move, most players around you will see that move as your whole game. Nothing frustrates limpers more than when the big blind raises; they want to see a flop, they were almost there, and the big blind is SUPPOSED to check, for Christ's sake! In their minds, you become a maniac bluffer, ESPECIALLY if they see you do the move more than once. They will remember, and they will carry a grudge.
On one hand, this can hurt you, as the more often they see that move, the more likely they are to call with marginal hands. If you have a marginal hand yourself, you're liable to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar. On the other hand, when you're not in the big blind and catch a big hand, you can make a big raise or re-raise and many of your opponents will remember the times you did The Blindsmasher, not all the times you've folded, and give you action. I've had this happen a lot lately, with players commenting on how they were sure I was bluffing because of The Blindsmasher. They never made the correlation between that move and my being in the big blind.
Another benefit of The Blindsmasher comes into play when you catch a decent hand in the big blind. KQ, AJ, 88, etc. What do you do with those? If you raise and get called, you're out of position for the rest of the hand. If you check, you're letting all those limpers in and you have no idea what they might be holding. Unless you catch very lucky on the flop, you're going to have to risk a lot of chips trying to find out where you are in the hand, and may very well have to fold the best hand.
It's important to remember that, when you're in the the big blind, you're in the BEST position preflop, but TERRIBLE position postflop. If you just check the big blind when there are limpers in front, you aren't taking advantage of that position at all. By limping, your opponents are giving you a clear message: "I am not strong, but I hope to get strong on the flop". If you give them that flop for what they've chosen to invest in it, you're letting them outplay you before the flop. The only way to utilize the power of your preflop position is to set the price of the hand yourself; hopefully one so high that your opponents will surrender the pot to you right then and there.
Now many will question the all-in here. Why not just make a big raise? The answer is simple. After the flop, you are out of position against all but the small blind. The ONLY way to take advantage of the preflop positional advantage of being in the big blind is to NEGATE your opponents' positional advantage after the flop by removing ALL postflop decision-making. This is an all or nothing move. Very risky; VERY thrilling and, under the right conditions, VERY profitable.
The operative words there are: "under the right conditions". Utilized properly, The Blindsmasher is a very powerful weapon to have in your arsenal. One mistake, however, and you're screwed. Recognizing when conditions are favorable for The Blindsmasher, and when they aren't is absolutely essential to being successful with it. I've gone so far to make myself a "Pre-Blindsmasher checklist":
*** Did any of the first three players to act (early position) limp in?
If "yes", you CANNOT do the Blindsmasher. Players in early position who lack discipline and understanding of position frequently try to limp in with strong to medium-strong hands (AQ, AJ, KQ, medium pocket pairs, etc.) and will often be stubborn with them. Also, one very tricky way to play AA and KK from early position is to limp it in (The Stealth Monster), hoping for a raise. Never forget Rule of Aquisition # 82: BEWARE THE EARLY-POSITION LIMPER!
*** Do any of the players in the hand have you significantly covered (2:1 or better)?
If "yes", you CANNOT do the Blindsmasher. Players with big stacks (especially in low-buy-in online tournaments) are frequently willing to gamble, especially when they have money in the pot. Never forget Rule of Aquisition # 243: PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR BABIES OUT IN THE COLD.
*** Are there any "action" players in the hand?
If "yes", you SHOULD NOT do the Blindsmasher. These players LOVE to gamble. The thrill of being all-in is the best part of the game to them; they are more likely to call you than not. You can spot them by the number of times they're all-in. Their chipstack also usually goes up and down a lot.
*** Do any of the players in the hand have less than 10x CPR (Cost Per Round; the total of the blinds and antes, what it costs you to play a round of poker)?
If "yes", you SHOULD NOT do the Blindsmasher, UNLESS you have them covered by at least 4:1. If you do, and there are no other players with stacks near your size in the hand, you should think about doing it with any two cards. They MAY fold. If they don't, there's always Rule of Aquisition # 301: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, IMPLEMENT "PLAN B". Plan B is simple, you get lucky and suck out on them, and it's not as unlikely as it may seem. The sad thing about this game is that, if you match the best unpaired pocket cards, AKs heads up against the worst hand in poker, 72o, AKs is only a 1.5:1 favorite; 2 times out of 5, 72o will beat it. You can ALWAY get lucky. The trick is to put yourself in a position to get lucky, and to do so when luck is the backup plan, not "Plan A". If you bet or raise, making your opponent fold is "Plan A". It's the way to go. When you're calling, you're doing so based upon the strength of your cards, but preflop, even AA will lose 1 time in 5 all-in against a single opponent. You're gambling when you make that call, and you have to remember Rule of Aquisition # 115: "YOU'RE NEVER AS FAR AHEAD IN THE HAND AS YOU THINK YOU ARE."
*** Are there any tight-passive players in the hand?
If "yes", BE CAREFUL. These players pride themselves on being tricky, and love nothing better than busting the aggressive people who push them around on the poker table and in their lives. They hold grudges forever and will take HUGE risks to exact revenge. If they've EVER seen you make this move, they're likely to limp with a big hand in the hope that you will try it. The earlier the position of the tight-passive player in the hand, the more dangerous they are, and the more you should beware them.
*** Are there any calling stations in the hand?
If "yes", BE CAREFUL! These players HATE to lay down a hand, and are often likely to call any raise with any hand they'd limp in with.
*** Have you done The Blindsmasher recently?
If "yes", BE CAREFUL! Every time the players at your table see you do The Blindsmasher, the more likely they are to call you the next time you do it. Remember, this move frustrates the hell out of players, most of whom will only raise off the big blind with AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AKs, and they expect you to do the same. They HATE The Blindsmasher! Do it once, and they're all laying for you. Do it twice and they'll be PRAYING to catch any pocket pair or Ace-anything when you're in the big blind so they can bust you. The Blindsmasher is a move best used in moderation. Remember Rule of Aquisition #27: KNOCK ON A DORR OFTEN ENOUGH AND SOMEBODY"S GOING TO ANSWER IT.
*** Do you have more than 15x CPR?
If "yes", you have enough money to sucessfully make this move. The Blindsmasher is a smackdown. You have to have enough chips to make your opponents think twice about calling. If you're short-stacked, you should probably do The Blindsmasher anyway, there's some money in the pot and no one's shown any strength, but doing it under these conditions attracts a call, you're probably going to have to catch lucky to take it down. At least this way, you may fold out SOME of the limpers, and you'll have 5 cards to catch, not just 3.
*** Are there 4 or more limpers in the pot?
If "yes", you CAN do the Blindsmasher.
If "no", you might want to reconsider. While this may seem counter-intuitive, the more limpers there are, the more money there is in the pot. This is a VERY high-risk maneuver, the payoff has to be worth it. Also, with more people to act behind them, some players will be a bit more reluctant to call, as they still have the other players to deal with.
*** Do you have a medium-strength hand like AT, KJ, or 77?
If "yes", this is a GREAT time to do The Blindsmasher, UNLESS, one of the first three positions has limped in, and they are a player you think may be sophisticated enough to do The Stealth Monster (limp AA or KK), or they are a player you think may be undisciplined enough to limp a medium-strength hand in from early position and may get stubborn with it. AT doesn't play well against AJ; 77 SUCKS against 88.
Otherwise, though, this is a great opportunity to take what may very well be the best hand preflop and see it win. Those medium-strength hands are very vulnerable to the flop, and having to play them out of position after the flop just makes them even more so. What they DO offer is an excellent "backup plan" for The Blindsmasher. It's a move you make with any two cards; when you hold a medium-strength hand, you may very well be bluffing with the best hand.
You can also employ The Blindsmasher from the small blind, but there is the slight additional risk of not having any idea what the player in the big blind is holding. It will make this HIGH-RISK move just a bit riskier.
I have been experimenting with this move A LOT lately, and can tell you that virtually every time I've gotten hurt with it, it's been one of the "danger" conditions I've outlined above. Following the above checklist closely makes The Blindsmasher both a thrilling and profitable move.
posted by Sean at 11:59 PM
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