Steal
A steal is a raise, usually before the flop and from a late position, with the intention of making the others fold and winning the blinds. The hand used for the raise does not need to be strong.
The simple explanation
If everybody folds to you on the button, you can raise with a fairly wide range hoping that both blinds fold. It is a profitable play since the blinds are already in the pot.
A closer look
Steals are most profitable against tight blinds who fold often. The best positions to steal are the cutoff, the button and sometimes the small blind. Blinds defend by three-betting or calling, so steals should be adjusted to the opponents. If the blinds fight back too much, you can tighten your range. Steal raises are small, around 2 to 3 big blinds, to risk little.
A practical example
Everyone folds to you on the button. You raise to 6 with 9♠ 4♦, hoping that both blinds fold.
Full explanation
A steal is a raise, usually before the flop and from a late position, with the intention of making the others fold and winning the blinds. The hand used for the raise does not need to be strong.
A steal is a raise meant to win the blinds.
It is usually made from the cutoff, button or small blind.
It works against tight blinds.
Adjust if the blinds fight back.
A steal
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN). Player B posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player C posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips.
- Player A BTN 99 of spades (9s)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player B SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of hearts (2h) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB JJack of diamonds (Jd)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
Player A on the button raises to 6 with a weak hand. He hopes that both blinds fold so he can steal their money.
- Player A BTN 99 of spades (9s)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B SB 77 of clubs (7c)22 of hearts (2h) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB JJack of diamonds (Jd)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.