Stealing the Button should be just one tactic in your arsenal of poker strategies. If you don't know what Stealing the Button is, then I suggest you read my article titled "A Sly, Tricky Way to Improve Your Table Win More Money Playing Texas Hold'em". It goes into great depth about what stealing the button is, why use it, how to use it, when to use it, and when NOT to use it.
Once you've used this tactic a few times and understand how to use it, and the most appropriate times to use it, it becomes a simple, surefire way to gain control at the table by improving your positioning.
Five Steps You Need To Know To "Steal The Button"
1. You need to have a playable hand.
You can loosen your starting hand requirements when you play from later positions. However, if you are going to bluff, make sure that you "semi-bluff". If you don't know what a semi-bluff is, read my article titled "How to Correctly Perform a "Semi-Bluff" and Rake in Massive Pots".
You want to play a hand that you can actually hit something with, like suited-connectors or semi-connectors. I personally prefer not to raise with garbage like 7-2 offsuit. I think that it's more of an ego raise than a logical, strategic play.
2. Force out the player on the button, and any player to his right.
The whole point to this play is to STEAL THE BUTTON. If you put in a sissy raise, you're not going to scare the button out of the pot. In fact, against decent players, it will more than likely get you into trouble.
If you are directly to the right of the button, you want to raise enough to force that player out. If you are two seats to the right of the button, they you'll have to raise enough to get the player to your left out, as well as the player on the button.
One of the secrets to successfully doing this is to ALWAYS pay attention to the pre-Flop betting patterns of the opponents on your left. By doing this you'll know EXACTLY how much you need to bet to get them out of a hand.
Be careful if you are to the right of a loose player. It will be difficult to get that player to give up his button position. So pay attention!
3. After the flop.
Since you raise pre-Flop, you're in control of the hand, and most players will check it to you. If someone bets into you, beware! Don't let your ego get in the way and end up losing a huge pot.
When players check to you, it gives you the power to either bet or check. You can bet and try to steal the pot right. Alternatively, you can check and get a free turn-card.
While you should normally bet to follow through on your raise, you should mix it up periodically and just check, especially if you're getting short-stacked.
4. Don't get pot committed.
Remember, stealing the button should be used as one of MANY plays you exhibit in your arsenal of poker strategies. Don't make a stupid play that you'll regret like betting a huge amount in order to try to push an opponent off their hand. If they have nothing, they're going to fold. However, when they have a real, strong hand, you'll end up paying dearly for it.
5. You don't always have to raise to steal the button.
There are two scenarios where you won't have to raise in order to steal the button. Often, the blinds will be big enough where you figure simply calling the big blind will be enough to get you the button. This is even more true when you are to the right of a tight player.
The second scenario is when someone in front of you raises the pot enough and all you have to do is call the raise and you'll get the button.
Once you've used this tactic a few times and understand how to use it, and the most appropriate times to use it, it becomes a simple, surefire way to gain control at the table by improving your positioning.
Five Steps You Need To Know To "Steal The Button"
1. You need to have a playable hand.
You can loosen your starting hand requirements when you play from later positions. However, if you are going to bluff, make sure that you "semi-bluff". If you don't know what a semi-bluff is, read my article titled "How to Correctly Perform a "Semi-Bluff" and Rake in Massive Pots".
You want to play a hand that you can actually hit something with, like suited-connectors or semi-connectors. I personally prefer not to raise with garbage like 7-2 offsuit. I think that it's more of an ego raise than a logical, strategic play.
2. Force out the player on the button, and any player to his right.
The whole point to this play is to STEAL THE BUTTON. If you put in a sissy raise, you're not going to scare the button out of the pot. In fact, against decent players, it will more than likely get you into trouble.
If you are directly to the right of the button, you want to raise enough to force that player out. If you are two seats to the right of the button, they you'll have to raise enough to get the player to your left out, as well as the player on the button.
One of the secrets to successfully doing this is to ALWAYS pay attention to the pre-Flop betting patterns of the opponents on your left. By doing this you'll know EXACTLY how much you need to bet to get them out of a hand.
Be careful if you are to the right of a loose player. It will be difficult to get that player to give up his button position. So pay attention!
3. After the flop.
Since you raise pre-Flop, you're in control of the hand, and most players will check it to you. If someone bets into you, beware! Don't let your ego get in the way and end up losing a huge pot.
When players check to you, it gives you the power to either bet or check. You can bet and try to steal the pot right. Alternatively, you can check and get a free turn-card.
While you should normally bet to follow through on your raise, you should mix it up periodically and just check, especially if you're getting short-stacked.
4. Don't get pot committed.
Remember, stealing the button should be used as one of MANY plays you exhibit in your arsenal of poker strategies. Don't make a stupid play that you'll regret like betting a huge amount in order to try to push an opponent off their hand. If they have nothing, they're going to fold. However, when they have a real, strong hand, you'll end up paying dearly for it.
5. You don't always have to raise to steal the button.
There are two scenarios where you won't have to raise in order to steal the button. Often, the blinds will be big enough where you figure simply calling the big blind will be enough to get you the button. This is even more true when you are to the right of a tight player.
The second scenario is when someone in front of you raises the pot enough and all you have to do is call the raise and you'll get the button.
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