Poker Plays 101: Defensive Plays

The blinds are often regarded as the worst position in poker. Since they are required to place a forced bet, late position players will often attempt to steal the blind by just placing any amount of bet, regardless of the strength of their hands. If you are one of the blinds, then you can successfully make a profit out of this tendency by doing defensive plays.

Defensive plays are done with hands that might be inferior or marginal. Since a blind is forced to play their hands and place a bet, then one is literally playing every hand when in this position. The worst thing about blinds is that late position players, especially the one on the button, will often steal the blind money when everyone has folded already.

Defensive plays could also be called counter-steals. If you are posted on the blind and observe that a late-position player often places a bet in order to steal the blind, then you can take advantage of this tendency.

Think about it: since you are forced to bet on the early stages of the betting round, then the late position players will still have no clue as to what your hand contains. Thus, you could easily counter their bluff with another bluff.

The added value of a defensive play is this: since you are in the early position, which is a position that is not really optimal for bluffing, there is only a small chance that your opponents will suspect a bluff. But since they are in the late position, and nothing is left to do but to steal the blinds, then you could easily suspect that these opponents are bluffing.

Do the defensive play by playing aggressive. If you have a weak hand, you cannot afford to just call the opponent's bluff, since it would be disastrous if the game was brought to a showdown.

If your opponents have a trashy hand, they will most likely fold and call off their bluff. If they continue to bet, it will be a game of high cards, and you have equal chances to win.

If your opponents have a good hand, you could still steal the pot by playing your bluff excellently. Act as if you are serious, and serious enough that when the board cards come, your hand seems to improve.

Defensive plays in poker are good ways to compensate for the disadvantages of being a blind. Counter-bluff a blind stealer, and you will surely profit out of your position. But always keep in mind that you can only pull this play off if you practice often!