09- 7-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

NL Tourney Blinded To Death

Question: I'd like to think that I'm an above-average player, I've done pretty well and hold a monthly poker game - as well as get invited to a few local games. The biggest one has the biggest cash prize obviously but the house rules are a bit different than normal - blinds raise every 20 minutes, until the final table, then they raise every 10 minutes (they swear it makes it more interesting). The problem I'm falling into is I'm a tight player and when the blinds move like that, I get pushed into an uncomfortable zone - especially if I'm lower on chips.

What's your recommendation when blinds raise to a significant amount in no-limit hold'em? Should you start bluffing - and what types of hands should you consider when the blind is a 3rd/quarter of your chips.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Answer: When the blinds are going to be a quarter of your chip stack you have to take a really aggressive approach. You are basically posed with the question of whether the hand you have now is going to be better then the one you'll have next round since you are running out of time and you'll have to play one.

The worst thing you can do with a short stack like that is just to call. Put your money all-in preflop -- it is going to go in anyway and you'll have a slightly better chance if you raise all-in instead of just calling and seeing if you like the flop. If you just call preflop you are down 1/4 of the your chips and you will most likely miss the flop.

Bluffing here is less potent since you don't have much ammo. You want a hand that will do well heads up. A pair preflop is best, then an Ace, then a King, then any two cards over 9. But if you are faced with the blinds and have little chips left, anything will have to do.

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