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Middle Limit Texas Holdem Preflop Strategy – Playing From the Blinds

This strategy article covers middle limit Texas Holdem Preflop strategy when you are seated in either the small or big blind. Preflop play from the blinds can be a bit tricky because you are either second to last or last to act before the flop but you are then in early position after the flop.

Then add in the fact that you have put money into the pot before you’ve even been dealt any cards, many players from the blinds have trouble letting go of their poor hands and end up calling bets that they should not.

My recommendations for playing from the blinds are to raise with the best hands such as A-A, K-K, Q-Q, and A-K. If the pot was raised by an earlier player, I’d still put in a raise with these hands. If players seated before me have not raised the pot and have only called bets I’d add J-J and A-J to my list of playable hands. If I feel that the player(s) calling are weak and get involved with a lot of suspect hands I’d occasionally play 10-10 as well.

Small Blind Play
When you are seated in the small blinds and the pot is unraised you can get involved with any paired hole cards and even with suited and near suited connectors like 7-8, 8-9, 8-10 etc… Since the pot is unraised, putting in the remaining half bet is relatively inexpensive and gives you a chance at connecting with the flop.

Big Blind Play
When you are seated in the big blind and the pot has been raised from any position you’d raise with premium hands as mentioned earlier and call with any two cards that are A through 10. If there are several players in the pot playing suited connectors is a good idea – 7-8 suited, 8-9 suited…

Also, look to switch up how you play hands so that you do not become predictable in the hands that you play and how you play them. For example, if you raise or reraise with A-K suited while in the blinds on several occasions then think about calling the next time that you are seated in the blinds and are holding A-K. Vary your play so that it makes it difficult for the other players to figure out what hands you might be playing.

Defending the Blinds
Being seated in the blinds will put you up against late position players who try to steal the blinds. If I’m seated in the small blind and have a decent hand I would re-raise with the hope of getting the big blind to fold and seizing the initiative from the late position player who raised in an effort to steal the blinds.

If I am in the big blind then I’d call with any kind of middling hand or better – a pair of 7’s or better.

The most valuable cards in the blocking of a blind steal are pairs and high cards. These are hands to defend the blinds with.

We have now covered play from each of the positions in a middle limit holdem game. Remember, you’ll be up against tougher players in the middle limits so review the strategy articles if necessary and don’t be afraid to start playing and practicing your new strategies. This is the only way that you are going to really get comfortable using them and perfect them. You can play and practice for either real money or for free in any of our recommended online poker rooms.

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