If played correctly, the small and big blinds should be seen as an opportunity in MTTs, rather than a hindrance. Many people play their blinds incorrectly because they don't understand the positional disadvantage they'll be playing from post-flop, or don't understand the maths surrounding when to call or fold. Too often, players are willing to call raises from late-position players out of the blinds with marginal hands like J-T or A-9 without recognising the fact that they will be first to act post-flop.
Playing from the small blind
The positional disadvantage of the small blind (SB) turns hands that would be playable in position to ones that are unplayable. Granted, there are times that you can take advantage of a preflop raiser who plays weak post-flop, but more often than not you are better off folding or reraising. (We'll talk more about defending the blinds later.)
One thing that you should do out of the small blind is raise frequently when it has been folded to you. Calling is usually a mistake in these instances because of the positional disadvantage you will be facing, and more times than not the big blind will fold most hands. This, of course, is dependent on who the player is, but generally speaking, raising is the correct course of action.
When to call
Calling with any two cards out of the SB when you are getting the right price can be a profitable play if utilised correctly. For every ten times you put in a small blind when you are getting 7-to-1 or better on your money, it only takes winning two times out of ten for this play to be profitable. For example, if there is 700 in the pot, and it is 100 for you to call, if you win one pot by calling, you can lose six of these pots and still make money. This doesn't even account for the times where you win big pots playing any two.
The implied odds in these multi-way pots make this play even more valuable. How many times have you been playing in a tournament and seen a player limp in early position with a big pair only to go broke to the small blind who has 9-3 offsuit and flops two pair? If that player had folded for that tiny additional bet, they wouldn't have won that huge pot.
Playing from the big blind
Playing out of the big blind is similar to playing out of the small blind in that you will always be at a positional disadvantage to almost everyone at the table, but this doesn't mean you should throw away your hand any time some one raises your big blind. One tactic you can use is calling and leading out. This is not the best way to defend your blinds, just an alternative that you should use from time to time.
Most of the time you should be raising or folding from the BB, but there can be certain times you should defend by calling. Because of the positional disadvantage, this can be a tricky play to employ, but against the right type of opponent it can be a very profitable one to use, especially against the smart, aggressive player who raises frequently, but doesn't get out of line post-flop.
If you are facing the type of player who is only raising a small proportion of his hands preflop, then you have to exercise more caution. They are likely playing a much narrower range of hands and you may get into trouble post-flop. Keep in your sights the players who have their fingers seemingly glued to the raise button.
When to call
To make this play, you would flat call preflop and lead out on any flop regardless of what the flop is. As most of you will know, the flop misses most players and this bet will force the preflop raiser to make a decision. If they have a legitimate hand, they will let you know, but most of the time they are going to throw their hand away. The additional benefit from making this play is there will be times you will actually improve your hand and you'll win a big pot from an opponent who does have a big hand.
It's also important to mix up how you utilise this play. If you know your opponent is the type of person to make a continuation bet every time, take a chance occasionally with a check-raise. They'll give your hand much more respect because they know you’re check-raising out of position and that your range of hands is large. Make sure to mix it up and do this with both your strong hands and your bluffs. It's a risky play, but if used correctly is a profitable one.
Defending your blinds
The biggest mistake players make when playing out of the blinds is in how they defend their blinds. Without question, the best way to defend your blinds is by reraising. Because you are out of position and last to act preflop, you want to apply maximum pressure to the other players. This helps to not only define their range of hands and take control of the hand post-flop, but it gives you an opportunity to win the pot outright.
The best players to defend against are those that are raising from typical steal positions. Normally, a person raising first to act from the hijack, cutoff, button, or small blind are not raising with a legitimate hand. They are raising in the hope that you will fold your hand and that they will pick up the blinds.
Stealing the blinds is how many poker professionals make their living. They feast on the weak who relent time and time again every time their blinds are raised. Make sure you are one feasting, not the one getting eaten alive by raising from the blinds at the right time.
How much to raise?
Whatever amount will induce your opponent to fold and one that makes sense for the hand that you are trying to represent is what you should look for. It doesn't make sense to move all in preflop if you have 60BB. Your opponent is going to know that you aren't doing this with a big hand and you are just trying to induce them to fold, and this could see them look you up with as marginal a hand as A-T.
Raise the amount you would raise if you were raising with a big hand. The key is to make the story believable. Most good players will sense a bluff if the story of your hand does not add up, so make your response to their aggression seem a convincing representation of a big hand.
The most important thing to remember when defending is to be aggressive, but to be smart about your aggression. Fold and call when it makes sense to, but if you truly are considering playing a hand out of the blinds, especially in a raised pot, your best course of action will almost always be to raise.