I have had several people ask me about this topic so I thought I would put several of these types of hands on here so that folks interested in seeing how I handle them could perhaps gain some insights on how to better take control of the situation when dealing with a blind stealer. When heads up I will nearly always defend my big blind, the only exceptions are when a solid player raises from early position and I have some trouble cards that might get me in serious trouble (things like A10, KQ, KJ, AJo, QJsooooooooooted). If I defend against these guys I want to have a complete hand of trash. I don't defend very often with shit from the SB unless a person has been hounding me with steals and then I will three bet with anything. Playing from the blinds takes some experience to know when to pull the trigger and when to let it go on bad flops. Your friend though if defending past the flop is the Check Raise whether you have anything or not. Hope these hands give you a little insight into the mind of a Big Blind Defender. My dbase is pretty depauperate since I had to restart it twice in the last month but still hopefully enough to get you started.

I have busted this guys ass several times but he just keeps on trying to steal from me and no it isn't TW

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, Button calls.

Flop: (6.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Turn: (4.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.16 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Ah 8d (one pair, eights).
Button has Jc 9d (high card, king).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.16 BB.

I had planned on raising here regardless of what hit the turn it just so happened it paired me.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds.

Final Pot: 6 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 6 BB.

Damn K4 is a powerhouse

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
8 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Turn: (4 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds.

Final Pot: 7 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 7 BB.

Game #926846754: Texas Hold'em Limit ($2/$4) - 2005/09/18 - 16:24:33 (ET)
Table "Yenisei" Seat 1 is the button.
Seat 1: MrTeddy78 ($76 in chips)
Seat 2: mtxed ($95 in chips)
Seat 3: Hooshios sits out
Seat 4: boomersoo ($75.75 in chips)
Seat 5: cerveza ($171.87 in chips)
Seat 6: smracine ($45.50 in chips)
Seat 7: BensBenz ($91.75 in chips)
Seat 8: Kafka_c ($145.25 in chips)
Seat 10: Achilles6 ($140.25 in chips)
mtxed: posts small blind $1
boomersoo sits out
cerveza: posts big blind $2
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to cerveza [Kc 4s]
smracine: folds
BensBenz: folds
Kafka_c: folds
Achilles6: folds
MrTeddy78: raises $4
mtxed: folds
cerveza: calls $2
----- FLOP ----- [2d Th 9d]
cerveza: checks
MrTeddy78: bets $2
cerveza: raises $4
Hooshios sits back
DukeMJ joins the table at seat #4
MrTeddy78: folds
Returned uncalled bets $2 to cerveza
cerveza: doesn't show hand
cerveza collected $12.50 from Main pot


Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO calls.

Turn: (4.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, CO folds.

Final Pot: 5.16 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 5.16 BB.

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 max, 8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: (3 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 5 BB

Results in white below:
SB has Td Ad (high card, ace).
Hero has Kd 4c (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins 5 BB.

No need to bet the river as if you are called you are beat here.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
8 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

River: (7 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 7 BB

Results in white below:
SB has Jc Ks (one pair, fives).
Hero has Kc 2d (two pair, fives and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins 7 BB.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO calls.

Turn: (4.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, CO folds.

Final Pot: 5.16 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 5.16 BB.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO folds.

Final Pot: 6.16 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 6.16 BB.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (5 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB folds.

Final Pot: 6 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Qd 4c (two pair, queens and tens).
Outcome: Hero wins 6 BB.

Game #926690634: Texas Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2005/09/18 - 16:07:29 (ET)
Table "Jig" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: brian1008 ($36.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Poilu ($56.50 in chips)
Seat 3: pharside ($79.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Musicman ($57.83 in chips)
Seat 5: lily ($18.50 in chips)
Seat 6: M.I.V. ($40.50 in chips)
Seat 7: Daley55 sits out
Seat 8: Ox_dad ($50.61 in chips)
Seat 9: InterZool ($59 in chips)
Seat 10: cerveza ($21 in chips)
InterZool: posts small blind $0.50
cerveza: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to cerveza [3s Qs]
brian1008: folds
Poilu: folds
pharside: folds
Musicman: folds
lily: folds
M.I.V.: folds
Ox_dad: folds
InterZool: raises $1.50
cerveza: calls $1
----- FLOP ----- [4h 8s 6s]
InterZool: bets $1
cerveza: calls $1
----- TURN ----- [4h 8s 6s][As]
InterZool: bets $2
cerveza: calls $2
----- RIVER ----- [4h 8s 6s As][9h]
InterZool: bets $2
cerveza: raises $4
InterZool: raises $4
cerveza: raises $4
InterZool: calls $2
----- SHOW DOWN -----
cerveza: shows [3s Qs] (A Flush, Ace high)
InterZool: mucks hand
cerveza collected $24.75 from Main pot


Another hand I was raising regardless of what hit the turn just so happened I paired.

Party Poker 20/40 Hold'em (4 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
2 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds.

Final Pot: 6 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 6 BB.


Tried to feign weakness after the J hits to get in another CR but failed but he paid off on river anyway with A high.

Party Poker 20/40 Hold'em (5 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Hero raises, MP calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

River: (4.25 BB) (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Final Pot: 6.25 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 8s Jh (two pair, jacks and eights).
MP has 6s As (high card, ace).
Button doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins 6.25 BB.

How are you going to raise preflop and then check it heads up when an Ace hits unless perhaps you hit trips so when he tries to represent on the turn after checking the flop I pound him with a little CR and he folds up like a tent in a hurricane.

Game #928078924: Texas Hold'em Limit ($2/$4) - 2005/09/18 - 18:19:59 (ET)
Table "Zinc" Seat 1 is the button.
Seat 1: Rizen ($79.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Good_Bob ($215.50 in chips)
Seat 3: cerveza ($62.25 in chips)
Seat 4: eric189 ($102.75 in chips)
Seat 5: mookie200 ($77.75 in chips)
Seat 6: FromDaA ($154 in chips)
Seat 7: luckydraw ($101.50 in chips)
Seat 8: patapika ($325.69 in chips)
Seat 9: Beruffer sits out
Seat 10: Cannylad ($243.25 in chips)
Good_Bob: posts small blind $1
cerveza: posts big blind $2
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to cerveza [7s Jh]
eric189: folds
mookie200: folds
FromDaA: folds
luckydraw: folds
patapika: folds
Cannylad: folds
Rizen: raises $4
Good_Bob: folds
cerveza: calls $2
----- FLOP ----- [Ad 6d 3c]
cerveza: checks
Rizen: checks
----- TURN ----- [Ad 6d 3c][3s]
cerveza: checks
Rizen: bets $4
cerveza: raises $8
Rizen: folds
Returned uncalled bets $4 to cerveza
cerveza: doesn't show hand
cerveza collected $16.25 from Main pot

A trickier situation here as the flop is not real great for me with the king or the flush draw that my play may be representing but when he fails to raise me back on the flop or turn I figure he is playing with some Ax and I continue the bluff all the way through and he mucks the river.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

Turn: (4.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button folds.

Final Pot: 7.16 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 6c Jc (high card, king).
Outcome: Hero wins 7.16 BB.


If I miss a pair on the river I may bet this pot but when I pair there is no sense in it for the most part as I will only be called if I am beat so I check the river.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
8 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Turn: (4 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (6 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 6 BB

Results in white below:
SB doesn't show.
Hero has Js 3s (one pair, threes).
Outcome: Hero wins 6 BB.

Party Poker 20/40 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Turn: (4 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (6 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 6 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 2h Jd (two pair, jacks and twos).
SB has Tc Qc (one pair, tens).
Outcome: Hero wins 6 BB.


Guy again from first hand that likes to try to steal my blinds.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, Hero caps, Button calls.

Turn: (6.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: (6.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Final Pot: 8.16 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 6s Ts (straight, ten high).
Button has Js 9c (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.16 BB.

Sometimes you just got to have some heart.

Game #927595574: Texas Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2005/09/18 - 17:35:44 (ET)
Table "Jig" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: Pokerguy2 ($48.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Poilu ($50.75 in chips)
Seat 4: Musicman ($43.58 in chips)
Seat 5: gina157 ($126.50 in chips)
Seat 6: M.I.V. sits out
Seat 7: boroboy1 ($31.50 in chips)
Seat 8: solring ($51.13 in chips)
Seat 9: brian1008 ($41.50 in chips)
Seat 10: cerveza ($67.50 in chips)
brian1008: posts small blind $0.50
cerveza: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to cerveza [Ts 5s]
Pokerguy2: folds
Poilu: folds
Musicman: folds
gina157: folds
gina157 sits out
boroboy1: folds
solring: folds
gina157 sits back
Stofer joins the table at seat #6
brian1008: raises $1.50
cerveza: calls $1
----- FLOP ----- [8c Kd 3s]
brian1008: bets $1
cerveza: calls $1
----- TURN ----- [8c Kd 3s][Qc]
brian1008: bets $2
cerveza: raises $4
brian1008: folds
Returned uncalled bets $2 to cerveza
cerveza: doesn't show hand
cerveza collected $9.50 from Main pot


Well I was in bad shape here but for god's sake throw that J9o away.

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Final Pot: 8.25 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 5d Td (straight, eight high).
Button has Js 9c (one pair, jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.25 BB.

Game #926861984: Texas Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2005/09/18 - 16:29:30 (ET)
Table "Jig" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: brian1008 ($44.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Poilu ($49.50 in chips)
Seat 3: straddler ($30 in chips)
Seat 4: Musicman ($38.83 in chips)
Seat 5: gina157 ($100 in chips)
Seat 6: M.I.V. ($41.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Chumpy004 sits out
Seat 8: Ox_dad ($60.36 in chips)
Seat 9: InterZool ($44.50 in chips)
Seat 10: cerveza ($44 in chips)
InterZool: posts small blind $0.50
cerveza: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to cerveza [4h Ts]
brian1008: folds
Poilu: folds
Musicman: folds
M.I.V.: folds
Ox_dad: folds
InterZool: raises $1.50
cerveza: calls $1
----- FLOP ----- [7s 7d Jh]
InterZool: bets $1
cerveza: raises $2
InterZool: folds
Returned uncalled bets $1 to cerveza
cerveza: doesn't show hand
cerveza collected $5.75 from Main pot

Party Poker 20/40 Hold'em (5 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
2 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: 6.25 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 4s Td (two pair, fours and twos).
Button has 3c As (one pair, twos).
Outcome: Hero wins 6.25 BB.

Party Poker 20/40 Hold'em (4 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
2 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB folds.

Final Pot: 2.50 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 2.50 BB.

***** Hand History for Game 2702422073 *****
$3/$6 Texas Hold'em - Tuesday, September 13, 03:42:30 EDT 2005
Table Table 27546 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 8
Seat 1: AA_Breaker ( $44.06 )
Seat 2: big_d_awg ( $132 )
Seat 3: TangRocks ( $508 )
Seat 6: DarkLimp ( $2068.86 )
Seat 8: lektrix ( $164.50 )
Seat 7: LuciaCortez1 ( $291 )
Seat 10: Nortonesque ( $1328.19 )
Seat 5: TGNE1 ( $146 )
DarkLimp posts small blind [$1].
LuciaCortez1 posts big blind [$3].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to LuciaCortez1 [ 7s 9s ]
lektrix folds.
Nortonesque: ah the river
Nortonesque folds.
big_d_awg folds.
TangRocks: pffft, like it matters. i only call your raises for the look of the thing
TangRocks raises [$6].
TGNE1 folds.
DarkLimp folds.
TangRocks: bring it
>You have options at Table 15665 Table!.
LuciaCortez1 calls [$3].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ks, 3c, 9h ]
GettinUgly has joined the table.
LuciaCortez1 checks.
tigger2tfn has joined the table.
TangRocks bets [$3].
LuciaCortez1 raises [$6].
TangRocks calls [$3].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Kh ]
LuciaCortez1 bets [$6].
TangRocks calls [$6].
** Dealing River ** [ 8c ]
LuciaCortez1 bets [$6].
Nortonesque: haha
TangRocks: wtf am i still doing in this hand, lol
TangRocks: watch him have QJ or some XXXX
TangRocks folds.
LuciaCortez1 shows [ 7s, 9s ] two pairs, kings and nines.
LuciaCortez1 wins $41.50 from the main pot with two pairs, kings and nines.
nice

Party Poker 20/40 Hold'em (3 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Final Pot: 8.25 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 8s 7d (straight, jack high).
Button has 6d 6h (one pair, sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.25 BB.


Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO folds.

Final Pot: 6.16 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 6.16 BB.


Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button folds.

Final Pot: 5.25 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 5.25 BB.

This story just doesn't jive with me. If you flop a Q here you don't check the flop unless you hit trips perhaps.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: (2.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

River: (6.16 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.16 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 8s 5c (two pair, queens and fives).
Button has 9d Tc (one pair, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.16 BB.

Why you going to raise with a piece of shit hand and then check the flop?

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
6 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: (2.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: (2.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: 2.25 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 3h 8c (one pair, threes).
Button has 5s 7s (high card, ace).
Outcome: Hero wins 2.25 BB.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
7 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button folds.

Final Pot: 3.66 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 3.66 BB.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

Turn: (4.16 BB) (3 players)
Hero bets, Button folds.

Final Pot: 5.16 BB

Results in white below:
Hero doesn't show.
UTG+1 doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins 4.66 BB. UTG+1 wins 0.50 BB.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
7 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button folds.

Final Pot: 3.66 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 3.66 BB.


Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
4 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, CO folds.

Final Pot: 5.25 BB

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins 5.25 BB.

Thanks Piers for the BB defense lessons. My BB was one of my biggest leaks in my game and I've been doing a little more defense in the right situations with great success based on your advice. I'm not quite as liberal in my defenses, mostly because my post flop play is not as good as your is.

At the limits I play at (1/2, .5/1), many times the raiser will also go to showdown with marginal hands too often. I find it very difficult to blind defend against them unless I really have a hand. I've C/R the flop and then led the turn, and I've called the flop and raised the turn, but I still get called down by garbage like A7o, middle pair, bottom pair, etc.