The blinds have the advantage of being in late position before the flop but the disadvantage of being in early position after the flop. Many players feel that because they put money in for the blinds that they must defend the blinds no matter what starting cards they hold. They will routinely call all raises, even with hands that they would not play from any other position. You must realize that once you put the money for the blinds into the pot, it is no longer your money.

It belongs to whoever eventually wins the pot. Many players lose a lot of money from misplaying hands when they are in the blinds. In a ten-handed game, the blinds will account for 2/10 of your total hands. Playing every hand without regard to the action in front of you is no better than playing with the "any two cards can win attitude," which is essentially what you are doing There are instances where you will want to defend your big blind against aggressive players who you know are just trying to steal your blinds.

If other players discover that you do not always defend your blinds, they may just start making a positional raise every time you are in the blinds. This can be frustrating, but in many cases you can get the player to back down. To do this you must wait for a playable hand. Then, when the aggressor tries for a steal by raising the pot, you will re-raise him. In most cases a player will only try for a steal from late position when no one else has entered the pot This means that you will most likely be heads up with this player Since you will be the first to act after the flop you must come out betting. Unless the flop hits the other player he will usually fold and then think twice about attempting a steal in the future.

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