Best improvement to my win rate was taking my frequent smoke breaks during the blinds. I smoke fast so I can fold UTG smoke during the BB get back to the table in time to buy the button. This is akin to not letting small children play with sharp objects... don't let cAm play his blind he hurts himself less. Then I Check my $3 SB or fold it to a raise and get ready to play my button. Dead serious I pay $3 per orbit to play 1/2. Doesn't matter when I pay or from what position. When I think bout it that way I feel less compelled to complete the SB. I first started thinking of this when watching the Pokerstars "Big Game" where one position (the button I think) payed all the antes.
When I have to play my SB because smoking every orbit is decidely unhealthy, my play varies. During my A game I fold a lot of SBs. "But what about the fabulous pot odds?" you ask.
You will be a loser from the blinds over the course of your poker career IMO. You will spend 20% of your poker career or more playing from the blinds. Minimizing losses here is critical.
All I can say is when I m playing well I fold a lot from the blinds. When I am on monkey tilt everything looks like Aces for $1. The rest is in between.
Tight is right and taking down a pot OTF is a spectacular result from the blinds IMO.
That said... I usually complete the SB too often.
Oh BTW... fold your SB a couple times in a row against unknown fish and you will find that even the most unobservant morons will comment on how tight you are. Then every 10th or 20th orbit you can whack the limpers to cover your $1 losses or otherwise take advantage of your tight image.
Last edited by cAmmAndo; 05-12-2013 at 11:36 PM.