Blind defense is how you respond when you're in the blinds and face a raise. You've already invested chips, so you have a discount—but you'll be out of position postflop.
Defend = Call or 3-bet vs a raise from the blinds
| Open Size |
Pot After |
Cost to Call |
Discount |
| 2BB |
3.5BB |
1BB |
1BB in already |
| 2.5BB |
4BB |
1.5BB |
Need 27% equity |
| 3BB |
4.5BB |
2BB |
Need 31% equity |
You get better odds because you already posted the blind.
SB faces worse odds—you only have 0.5BB invested:
| Open Size |
Cost to Call |
You Need |
| 2.5BB |
2BB |
~33% equity |
| 3BB |
2.5BB |
~36% equity |
| Factor |
Defend Wider |
Defend Tighter |
| Position of opener |
Late position |
Early position |
| Bet size |
Smaller |
Larger |
| Stack depth |
Deep |
Short |
| Your hand |
Suited, connected |
Offsuit, gapped |
| Defend |
Example Hands |
| Always |
A2s+, K5s+, Q8s+, 22+, suited connectors |
| Often |
K2s+, J8s+, T8s+, suited gappers |
| Sometimes |
Offsuit broadway, weak suited |
| Action |
When |
| 3-bet |
Strong hands, wide vs late opens |
| Call |
Some strategies allow vs BB only |
| Fold |
Default for weak hands |
⚠️ Many players fold or 3-bet only from SB (no calling).
- BB can squeeze behind
- You're OOP vs both players
- Hard to realize equity
| Prefer Calling |
Prefer 3-Betting |
| Speculative hands |
Premium hands |
| Deep stacks |
Shallow stacks |
| Wide opening ranges |
Want to end hand |
| Vs aggressive 4-bettors |
Vs calling stations |
| Opener |
Your Defense |
| UTG |
Tight (strong range) |
| MP |
Medium |
| CO |
Wider |
| BTN |
Widest (they open wide) |
| Mistake |
Problem |
| Defending too tight |
Giving up too much equity |
| Defending too loose |
Playing weak hands OOP |
| Only calling, never 3-betting |
Predictable, easy to exploit |
| Same defense vs all positions |
Ignoring opener's range |
Defend your blinds based on the opener's position and sizing. BB gets a discount—defend wide but selectively. SB is trickier—prefer 3-betting or folding over flat calling.