Analyzing the Stats - The Blinds

Digging into the database has begun.  Let's start with some interesting stats and try come up with reasons as to why they are what they are. The following stats were surprising to say the least but I suppose not totally unexpected if you read what others have said. The data was mined form 685,000 hands player over the period January 2009 to October 2010 at many different sites.  At this particulars site I played 28,727 hands.   There was a mix of stakes but the greatest number were played at $5/10 NL.  Total dollars won was $560.65 (.1846 BB/100).  Here are the results by position expressed in win rates BB/100.
Position                           BB/100                    Hands Played

Small Blind                                  -11.62                     5,745

Big Blind                                      -15.63                     5,792

Early                                               1.1                       2,355

Middle                                          12.77                      4,199

Cutoff                                               .8                        5,093                              

Button                                          18.49                      5,543              

Total                                                                         28,727

Position is everything in Holdem.   One of my greatest leaks is defending my blinds way too often with hands that I cannot continue with or know how to play after the flop.  In upcoming posts I will post specific  hands that have been the big losers and try to determine if there is a better way to play them or if they should not have been played at all. 

I have ran through a number of the small and big blind loser hands.  Most of the hands I open with are solid hands like AKs, or AQs or pocket pair.  When I get looked up I have a problem with post flop play.  The largest losses come when I hit top pair good kicker make a pot size raise and get called or raised.  In my head I say "Oh-oh"  and have a hard time playing the turn and the river.  My opponent is either a good player and is waiting for me to show weakness or has hit something I cannot beat.  So my options are check, raise, or check/raise.  In this case I usually elect for a 3/4 to pot size raise.  When I win the pot it is usually because the game ends right there but in the losing hands I either get re-raised or called again.  OK, what now.  If I check it is usually followed by a raise.  If I call rather than re-raise this is a sign of weakness and I know it will cost me money to get to a showdown.  If I 3 Bet I am usually committing myself to playing all in.  How would you guys play a hand like this.   This is probably a bad beat but how could I have played it differently?  4BB preflop, pot size bet on flop, and all in on turn.  Should I bet more preflop with AKo?  All in on flop not the answer. ??

$0.50/$1 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players


UTG: $35.40
BTN: $92.60
Hero (SB): $39
BB: $48.15

Pre-Flop: K A dealt to Hero (SB)
UTG calls $1, BTN folds, Hero raises to $4, BB folds, UTG calls $3

Flop: ($9) 3 J 5 (2 Players)
Hero bets $9, UTG calls $9

Turn: ($27) T (2 Players)
Hero bets $26 and is All-In, UTG calls $22.40 and is All-In

River: ($71.80) 6 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)


Results: $71.80 Pot ($2 Rake)
UTG showed 6 4 and WON $69.80 (+$34.40 NET)
Hero showed K A and LOST (-$34.90 NET)

I am also aware that I have a hard time folding a drawing hand post flop, top pair poor kicker, or big pair when I probably do not have the best hand and this is a big leak that I have to plug.  An example follows.  This is just plain stupid but I am sure many of us have done this before.   This is a play I made too often from many positions not just the blinds.

$1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players


BTN: $137.45
Hero (SB): $69
BB: $413.75
UTG: $172.85
MP: $120.25
CO: $102.35

Pre-Flop: K K dealt to Hero (SB)
2 folds, CO raises to $6, BTN calls $6, Hero raises to $18, BB calls $16, CO folds, BTN calls $12

Flop: ($60) A 2 4 (3 Players)
Hero bets $51 and is All-In, BB folds, BTN calls $51

Turn: ($162) 2 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)


River: ($162) T (2 Players - 1 is All-In)


Results: $162 Pot ($3 Rake)
BTN showed Q A and WON $159 (+$90 NET)
Hero showed K K and LOST (-$68 NET)