[norshvind]

how many people need to call for u to call 1/2 a SB from the SB w/ almost any 2 cards?

what i'm saying is if many people limp in, what number of people need to limp for u to get proper odds to hope for a 2pair or 3 of a kind or straight/flush draw in a low limit game?

[quickie]

Never call with 72o in the small blind. Your odds for getting bingo is very small and you'll be first to act in later rounds of betting. Also the BB may raise and seeing the flop may become more expensive.

If you assume that everyone will fold to your bet on the flop you need 14 players to get proper odds (13 callers and the BB), so it's never going to happen. You can get some action after the flop; but someone is very likely to make a flush, a straight, bigger two pair or a set, you can even make a boat and lose to a bigger one.

[heartbreaker]

I am going to disagree with bilo on only one exception: if pot odds, getting a player out or it is going to cost you so little to gain something like that you might and I express might think about calling. Otherwise this is a tough hand to ever stay in on.

[petronder]

Iv'e noticed that in low limit games, if EVERYBODY calls to you, then more than likely they all have a couple of pictures cards in their hand or Aces or even high pairs. With that many overcards out of the deck, it couldn't hurt to call another dollar or two to see the flop. You might get luckier than usual?

[chris]

This is a great question, IMHO. Way to many poker players think that their half in and well its only X amount more so hey, why no take a look at the flop no matter how bad their hand is.

Think about it this way - you have the worst possible position on the table once you see the flop. You have no idea who hit what on the flop and how the betting is going to come back to you.

Many experts far advanced of myself have argued and I beleive correctly that this is where most players loose the most amount of money...The Small Blind. Why play hands that you wouldn't voluntarily put your money in with from say UTG? b/c your half in - thats plain silly if you ask me.

Come up with a set list of hands that are playable from the small blind and stick to them you will save a ton of money. We all know 72 will never make that list...but I think your question is more of a general playing the small blind question then a 72 question...Good Luck.

[johnf]

yes, i figured this out in a free roll tourney, i busted out in 184 out of 4000 where 150 get "in the money"

i played A5spades in the SB when 3 peeps limped, floop came AXX w/ 2 spades... i thought this flopped was so good, i bet the minimum 3k when i had a stack of 18k, BB fodls next person raises all-in everyone else folds, i think i think i think... for somereason (i shoulda folded)... but i just wasn't thinking properly... i dunno maybe i was tired... i call he turns over ATo no help, GG

[arcfinn]

scared!?
Name those experts please. I'm willing to listen and learn from an alternate theory, but I've never seen your SB=UTG...

[quickie]

I just reread the section, you are right; they suggest playing quite loosly unless there has been a legitimate raise. However, it says in the 40th page: "Over their careers, many players lose quite a bit of money from the blind positions. This is because they frequently overestimate the value of their hand in comparison to the partial bet that they are required to make to continue playing."

[pritz]

I guess I don't understand why you would ever want to defend "spent" money with "live" money. The blinds are forced and yes we all have to play them...but let's play them wisely and not treat them as a life or death situation. I mean another hand will be dealt in just a matter of a minute or so and then you will have the button and the position to play lower ranked hands. I'm a positional/informaiton based player and I want to know what I'm up against before I play lower ranked hands.

Quickie wrote above the info out of HFAP that S & M also believe that many players lose long term out of the blinds.

BTW I never said SB = UTG...I asked the question: if you wouldn't volunterily enter the pot from UTG with the hand then why would you complete the betting from the SB? I really hope its not to defend a couple of measly dollars.

[corey]

The money to be made in holdem is after the flop - not before. It is true that horrendous starting requirements will cripple all but the very best players bankrolls - although noteably, Ted Forrest saw every flop for 6 months playing $400/$800 and won money. I have called from the small blind with 72 (and likely any two cards although I didn't know there would be a quiz on it later *s*) and have raised with it as well. However, to the point of the original posters question - there is no time that the number of players in shall dictate a call with such a hand. Poker has too many intricasies to have a rote system by which to call or pass - everything is situational.

So, while you are never getting good enough pot odds to call with 72 from the SB - there may be other reasons which are correct for a call or even a raise.

[BigAl]

I wouldn't hold out too much on it, but with only 2, 3 even 4 players in the game I would post that if I had the chips.

As said above, the money is to be made after the flop - you see 772 come down with 72 in hand and it might just be your lucky day.