Blind Defense
Blind defense is calling or re-raising an opponent's preflop raise from the small or big blind.
The simple explanation
Blind defense means calling or raising a preflop raise from the small blind or the big blind instead of folding. The player in the blind has already put money in the pot, so the price to continue is lower than for any other player. Defending is how you avoid giving away your blind every time someone raises.
A closer look
A player in the big blind gets a discount: the call costs less than for a regular player, so many hands that would be folded elsewhere can be played. The weakness is position: the blinds act first after the flop. Good defense therefore mixes calls with re-raises, and it depends on the raiser's position, since players raise wider from the button than from early position. The goal is to punish players who raise too often.
A practical example
Player A raises to 6 from the button. Player C in the big blind calls 4 more rather than folding.
Full explanation
Blind defense is calling or re-raising an opponent’s preflop raise from the small or big blind.
Blind defense is the strategy of calling or reraising an opponent’s raise before the flop when you are in the small or big blind. Instead of folding and giving up the forced bet, the player ‘defends’ it.
The reason is price. The big blind has already put in one big blind, so calling a raise to three big blinds costs only two more. The pot odds are better than for any other seat.
The cost is position. After the flop the blinds act first, so a defended hand is played out of position, which makes it harder to realize its equity.
Players who defend too rarely can be stolen from easily. Raising from late position is profitable if the blinds fold too much, which is why defending is a main counter to blind steals.
Alternative spelling: Blind Defence
Blind defense
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 AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player B SB 88 of hearts (8h)33 of spades (3s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB KKing of clubs (Kc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
Player A raises to 6 from the button.
- Player A BTN AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B SB 88 of hearts (8h)33 of spades (3s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB KKing of clubs (Kc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
Player B folds the small blind.
- Player A BTN AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B SB 88 of hearts (8h)33 of spades (3s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
- Player C BB KKing of clubs (Kc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 13 chips
Player C already has 2 chips in as the big blind and calls 4 more instead of folding. This is blind defense.
- Player A BTN AAce of clubs (Ac)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B SB 88 of hearts (8h)33 of spades (3s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
- Player C BB KKing of clubs (Kc)1010 of clubs (Tc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.