60-Minute Master: Spin & Go Part 7, Big Blind vs Button

This lesson will be about playing the Big Blind versus a Button raise.

Keep in mind that if we see a flop in this situation, we will be out of position for the entire hand. As for hands to defend our Big Blind with, we will be 3-betting a wider range versus the Button player compared to when we are in the Small Blind.

This is due to the fact that when we’re in the Small Blind, we have 2 players who can still call us and therefore we need to shove a stronger range on average.

First, let’s take a look at the our 3-bet re-shove chart in the Big Blind versus a Button raise.

RE-SHOVE CHART BIG BLIND VS BUTTON

Because we only need one player to fold (the Button), our re-shoving range out of the Big Blind should look like this, and of course, depends on your stack size.

• Blue = any stack size
• Yellow = stack size below 12
• Red = stack size of 6 and lower

EXAMPLE SITUATIONS

Ok we have the chart, now let’s take a look at some examples. First example. Button raises to 2.5BB and the Small Blind folds. We’re in the Big Blind with A5s and have 8BB left.Should we ever just call? Or maybe fold? No! This is an auto re-shove as we can expect to be ahead of his opening range and realize fold equity preflop while still having some decent hand equity in an all-in situation should he decide to call. Here’s another example. The Button has just 4BB left and goes all-in. The Small Blind folds. We’re the chip leader in the Big Blind and have him well covered. We have to call 3BB to win 5.5BB (his bet plus the blinds posted), so we’re getting a good price to call and cap the action versus a desperate (and weak) shoving range. At this point, it doesn’t matter a whole lot what our hand is as long as it’s not the bare bottom of hand ranges. But it’s close. We can muck hands here like 74o or 92s but for the most part, we’re going to be calling with a wide range. Pretty much anything highlighted in the chart above is going to be a call. If the Button were to have 3BB or less and go all-in, we would be calling with pretty much any two cards, and we’d be correct to do so. One more example. We’re in the Big Blind with A8o and have just 4BB left after posting our blind. The player on the Button, who has roughly 5 times our stack, limps and the Small Blind folds. Now, the Button could be trapping with a big hand but it’s MUCH more likely he has a weak hand, given that he limped instead of raised. Plus with our stack size, we’d be forced to continue with a wide range, so he nearly always has a weak range when he limps here. Anyway, with just 4BB left, there’s absolutely no reason to check our option here. Our stack is on life support, meaning we must take the chance right here and now to double up, or take down a few extra BBs preflop. Since he has a weak range, if we shove, he may just fold. He may also decide to call with the price he’s getting, which is fine, since our hand is likely to be slightly ahead of his continuing range. But either way, this is a must shove situation and anything other than shoving is incorrect.  

QUIZ TIME!

Study the chart and then answer the following questions. The answers can be found below. No cheating!

Questions:

1. Which suited Jacks do we shove when we have less than 6BB? 
2. Which Aces are we not shoving when we have 15BBs?
3. The Button folds and the Small Blind min-raises. What do we do with A8o if we have 9BB?

Answers:

1. J3s-JTs
2. A80-A2o and A2s
3. Trick question! This is not the chart for that situation. This chart is for when the Button raises!