Beginner Limit Hold'em Poker Forums

Some very good players call out of the small blind but not me. If I\'m against a steal raiser I 3 bet or fold 100% to drive out the BB and get his dead money in the pot. Vs. some players both QJo and A5s would be 3 bets for me, against other players they are folds. It\'s very situational and depends on their steal range in addition to their reaction to a 3 bet (if they will give up on flops they miss very easily I would be inclined to 3 bet more, including suited connectors, all suited aces, and all big cards).

-DeathDonkey

I have similar beliefs as DeathDonkey. The only thing I wanted to add is that when it gets down to 3 or 4 handed, I\'ll start calling steal raises out of the SB, but it\'s not a default. Don\'t know whether or not it\'s correct; just something I sort of fell into.

For a long time I used to 3bet or fold out of the SB and I think it\'s still valid online.

However when playing live my image dramatically shapes this. Since the crowd in the $50/100 and $100/200 in Seattle is pretty small most of the players know me and know I try to run them over. I end up getting called down by 3rd pair and A high quite often.

This has led me to call with some of the hands which don\'t mind the BB coming along. QJs, JTs come to mind. However I still 3 bet A8 and up, and 66 up (range changes depending on the opponent of course). I 3 bet those since they need to be heads up.

This question is about small blind defense to a likely steal raise from the Button or CO. Are you willing to defend hands like A5s and QJo. If so are you 3-betting these out of position or just taking a flop trying to improve the hand. What kind of offsuit Aces are u willing to play, A9? lower? Is it better to 3bet these marginal hands in order to try to force the BB out and play the pot heads up albeit OOP. Obviously reads on the stealers would shape this range dramatically, but maybe a soft guidline is what I am looking for here.