Recently while reading RGP, I saw a question that I thought would make good column content. The question was this (paraphrased): Often, new players in a must-post game opt to wait and post one big blind after the button passes, rather than take the big blind in position. What is the perceived advantage in doing that instead of just coming in on the blind?
There were many opinions expressed in the replies to this question. Here are some of them:
Pat O'Malley: I never enter a game on the big blind, where I'm forced to put money in the pot from the worst position possible. Always post behind the button, where your money is in the best position possible. It is much better to lose the big blind from good position than to lose the small blind and the big blind from the worst positions possible.
Howard Lederer: In a ring game, posting the big blind after the button is an advantage. In a $10-$20 game, you have to pay only $10 to see eight hands, a better per-hand deal than $15 for 10 hands. And, you are in a better position when your blind money is in the pot. This is why you are allowed to do it only once as a courtesy when you sit down. If you miss your big blind after having played in the game, you have to post $15 after the button passes, and $5 of the post is dead money.
Jeff Yoak: You have the following two choices: Post a whole bet in the second-worst position (post-flop) and half a bet in the worst position (post-flop), and play those two positions and the button, or post a whole bet in the second-best position (post-flop), and miss the button and the two worst positions that round.
It is clear to me that with a very large number of players (say, 20), it would be better to take the second choice. The half a bet saved and the greater utility of your big blind in the back outweigh giving up the button. It is equally clear to me that shorthanded, you're better off with the first choice, because the portion of the orbit you're giving up by posting behind is large. Full-handed (meaning nine or 10), I think it is relatively close and doesn't matter much. I generally post behind full-handed, but I'm not certain there is a big advantage there.
Steve Badger: Besides the value of position itself, when you post $10 in a $10-$20 game, there is $15 of other money in the pot with you. If you post the big blind, there is only $5. While other people will play a bit tougher because of the extra blind money in the pot, posting behind gives you position in this larger-before-the-cards-are-dealt pot.
In a ninehanded game, you can get nine hands for $15, $1.66 a hand, or six hands for $10, $1.66 a hand. Two of those extra three hands are out of position. If you could post every time (and nobody else could), you'd be giving up a lot to take the blinds.
Tad Perry: The button is worth having, in my opinion, and if you're a good player, the blinds are worth taking, as well, for they represent opportunities. So, it comes out to be about a wash. You really are paying for what you get if you take the blinds and then the button. People can engage in a holy war about this if they wish, but rest assured that either way you do it, you can't possibly be far from wrong.
So, the debate goes on. Which do you think is best: taking the blinds in position or posting behind the button?
Change of subject: I recently attended Commerce Casino's Ladies Poker Dream Weekend and Ocean's Eleven Casino's California Ladies State Poker Championship. Both casinos treated the players like royalty, hosting lavish buffets and giving out wonderful gifts and door prizes. The Ocean's Eleven event included many fun social activities, such as a beach party, a fashion show, a seminar, and a dance. Congratulations to the individual winners, as well as to the all-around champions (Cheryl Kaufman at Commerce and Sharon Silvas at Ocean's Eleven).
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Now, let's play poker!