Here's a question I wrote down while playing that of course ended up becoming multiple questions...

Hero is a young college student who is enjoys talking at the table and meeting his neighbors.

Hero is in the BB with KQo. There are five limpers at the 1/2 NLH table. Originally I was going to ask how many BB I should bump up this pot, but then I realized that this is table/player dependent.

GENERALLY SPEAKING... if players limp weak hands how many BB should I bump up the pot to either get everyone to fold and steal the blinds or get 1-2 callers?

In the hand I made it 6xbb, but everyone called. Obviously that means I should have bet larger. However is such a big bet only getting better to call and worse to fold? Is this a positive EV spot? Should I only try to steal the blinds vs 2-3 limpers? Are there too many people in the hand to make this a +EV situation?

Granted that more history regarding the players at the table would be helpful, but I can't remember which session I wrote this note from.

Thanks guys, looking forward to your feedback.

1/2 blind stealing - not an area of the game I spend much time trying to perfect. But I'd say you want to do this when the average age of the table is about 50.

I think it's best to understand the right spots to squeeze rather than steal.

1/2 players like to see flops and they'll do it liberally for 5-10bb. But when a bunch of them call 8bb in a row then you're "stealing" more with less risk.


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This is entirely table dependent. I'm playing right now and I would estimate that a $25-30 raise would get it heads up or take it down. However sometimes I'd still get called 4 ways especially as 2 limpers call almost anything.

This is a great topic for someone who wants to be a long term winner and playing for a living or secondary income.

first, raising KQo is not really blind stealing. It is thinning the field with a hand that we might necessarily not want to play out of position, but it is certainly not blind stealing.

I think of blind stealing as raising A7o from the button to 8x after there are five limpers.

but generally,

- the rest of the table is a domino effect from what the first limper does after you raise. One call can incite five more calls. Or one fold can incite 5 more folds. So the reaction of the first player to act after you raise is somewhat important. The amount you raise should take into account the likelyhood of the first player calling. If you have an OMC first to act, 5x might get the job done. If you have a megastation, you might have to go 10x. Remember, the value of our cards has little to do with the success of this move because we want the entire table to fold to our raise.

-3x is never going to get the job done.

-it is often better to just limp the button than raise and try to steal. raising on the button just makes other players become more stationy as they consider you more of a threat to steal rather than raise for value. Then, steal from the button once the flop comes down.

-Some players in the BB will let you steal their blind all night, so long as they don't have a hand. Other players take offense after you have done it two or three times. It is important to gauge the emotional state of the players that you are targeting to steal thier limps.

-and finally, and most obviously, be ready for the limp backraise after you have stolen a few blinds. If you sense that a player is going for this move, keep them off balance by mucking your junk, underplaying your bigger hands, and overplaying QQ+ hands.

Few good posts
In general I am just limping along In the blinds with KQo if it is suited I like raising to thin the field out.
As for punishing limpers in the button you have to be aware of people expecting you to raise/steal on the button.

$15 - $17 or limp are both fine table depending.

Generally if players are limping weak ranges I'm going to raise to $17.
If there are 2+ players who will limp in with stronger hands like AK/AQ, JJ-99 then I'm just going to check and bet most top pair hands fold most else.