Stealing the blinds or antes. Some would wonder what the point is since there’s so little involved. However, there is plenty of useful strategy, not to mention reward, in snapping these up a few in a row from time to time.
First, if you’re getting on in the game at Ful Tilt, and the blinds increase, we’re not necessarily talking about chump change anymore. Granted, if you’re even in a position to bet up to steal the blinds, then you already have built yourself a sizable chip stack, and therefore proportionately, the blinds won’t make that much of a difference to you. However, you will be keeping them from building up someone smaller chip stack, of which the added cushion would help much more. You’re also crushing their confidence and forcing them to play tighter with each blind you steal, and each diminished level their stacks reach. You’ll find your opponents start playing “not to lose” instead of playing to win – a death sentence in this game. A poker tournament is all about advancing, being the winner. If you’re playing to simply not finish last, you might as well never sit down to begin with.
So how do you steal the blinds effectively and consistently? I’m a fan of the effect that betting a certainly multiplication of the blinds causes. Say eight times the big blind. First of all, half the table who have chips left won’t even be able to see that raise without going all-in, something they’re not likely to do at this stage of the game unless they think they have a powerful hand and a legitimate shot. Most won’t take that desperation step just to save their small blind. On the other hand, if you want to try to add to a small stack at Star Poker, going all-in can send a strong message to the rest of the table, especially if you do it early in the betting rotation. You might get an apathy call from the chip leader, but in most cases you’ll have his pre-flop hand beat, and you can take solace in the fact that the math from then on out will be in your favor.
What hand is worth taking that chance on an all-in to make or break your tournament? Depends how close to the end you are, but anything with an Ace, any hand that gives you life for a straight and a flush together…even a low pair. You have little to lose and enough to gain to make it worth the risk.