How to Defend Blinds in Poker: Strategy and Key Statistics

In poker, the blinds are forced bets that rotate around the table. Because players in the small blind (SB) and big blind (BB) positions already have chips committed to the pot, they face a constant stream of decisions about whether to fold, call, or re-raise when opponents open-raise. Learning how to defend blinds effectively is critical for long-term success, especially in cash games and tournaments where blinds make up a large portion of the overall chip movement.

This article explains how to defend your blinds strategically, what factors to consider, and which blind defense statistics are generally considered “good” benchmarks.

Why Blind Defense Matters

• High Frequency Situation: Every orbit, you will post blinds. That means these positions will naturally account for a large percentage of your overall hands played.
• Chips at Risk: Since blinds are forced bets, folding too often results in a steady loss of chips.
• Exploitability: If you defend too tightly, aggressive opponents can open-raise more often and profit easily. If you defend too loosely, you lose chips by playing dominated hands out of position.

The goal of blind defense is to lose less than you would by folding every hand. Defending perfectly does not mean winning money from the blinds — even world-class players lose in these spots — but it does mean minimizing losses.

Factors in Blind Defense Decisions

1. Position and Raiser’s Range
   • Raises from early position (EP) are stronger on average → defend tighter.
   • Raises from late position (CO/BTN) are wider → defend looser.
2. Hand Strength
   • Premium hands can 3-bet (re-raise) for value.
   • Medium-strength hands often call, especially suited connectors, suited aces, and broadways.
   • Weak offsuit hands usually fold, unless facing a small raise from the button.
3. Pot Odds
   • Since you already have money in the pot, you need less equity to call.
   • Example: In the BB facing a 2.5x open, you may need only ~20–25% equity to continue.
4. Stack Sizes
   • Shallower stacks reduce postflop maneuverability, so defend tighter.
   • Deeper stacks increase implied odds for speculative hands.
5. Player Tendencies
   • Versus tight opponents → defend less.
   • Versus aggressive stealers → defend more, mix in more 3-bets.

Small Blind vs. Big Blind Defense

• Small Blind (SB):
  • Worst position postflop (always acts first).
  • Recommended to defend tighter, prefer 3-bets or folds rather than flat-calling.
  • Typical defense rate: ~25–35% of hands.
• Big Blind (BB):
  • Better pot odds (1 BB already invested).
  • Wider defending range, especially against late position opens.
  • Typical defense rate: ~55–65% versus button raises, ~30–40% versus UTG raises.

Key Blind Defense Statistics

Tracking your blind defense in a poker HUD (Heads-Up Display) helps identify leaks. Here are the most important metrics:

1. Fold to Steal (FvSteal)
   • % of times you fold blinds versus an open raise.
   • Good ranges:
     • SB FvSteal: 65–75%
     • BB FvSteal: 55–65%
2. Call vs. 3-Bet Frequency
   • How often you flat-call raises compared to re-raising.
   • Too much calling → capped, vulnerable range.
   • Too much 3-betting → exploitable bluffs.
3. BB vs. Position Defense
   • Defense frequency should adjust depending on raiser’s position.
   • Example: Defend ~30% vs UTG, ~50–60% vs Button.
4. Overall Winrate in Blinds (BB/100)
   • Blind positions will almost always be losing spots.
   • Good benchmarks:
     • SB: -15 to -20 BB/100
     • BB: -30 to -35 BB/100
   • If your losses are significantly worse, you are likely over-folding or over-defending.

Practical Tips to Improve Blind Defense

• Study Equity Realizations: Run simulations with solvers (e.g., GTO Wizard, PioSolver) to see which hands retain enough equity to defend.
• Adjust to Raise Sizes: Defend wider versus min-raises, tighter versus large opens.
• Use Suitedness Wisely: Suited hands perform better out of position; prioritize them in your defense ranges.
• Don’t Fear 3-Betting Light: Mix in bluffs (suited connectors, blockers like A5s, KTs) to balance value hands.
• Table Dynamics Matter: Against passive players, play more straightforward. Against aggressive stealers, increase your defense frequency.

Conclusion

Defending blinds effectively is about finding the right balance: protecting your chips without over-committing in tough spots. You will always lose money from the blinds, but the goal is to lose less than your opponents by defending strategically.

Good blind defense means:

• Folding too little = bleeding chips postflop.
• Folding too much = giving away blinds for free.
• Balanced defense = tighter in SB, wider in BB, adjusting by position, raise size, and opponent tendencies.

With practice, study, and stat-tracking, you can turn blind defense from a costly leak into a competitive edge.