It is often said that limping during the high blind phase of ten man SNG’s is not really considered to be a good idea. As a rule then there are very few opponents left and so limping usually invites a raise or a shove depending on stack size. However there are instances where this could be correct as part of a balancing strategy and this could especially be the case against opponents that you play regularly.
Let us say that the blinds are 300-600 and you have a stack of 7200 while your two opponents have stacks of 3900 each. There are only three players remaining and so all of you are in the money. If you have the button here with a playable hand like 10c-8c then is raising the automatic choice? I think in most cases then it is but here is where understanding your opponents mind set is crucial.
Both of these opponents will not have the same mind set and it is your job to find out who is playing what and why? If the player in the big blind is playing the more tightly of the two then you could attack their blind and look to take the 900 in blinds. This would pay for at least three more hands. If both players are looking to loosen up then blind stealing needs to be done with caution.
Many players loosen up once they hit the money and especially if they have a short stack. If you are raising to a conventional amount like 1800 with 10-8s then you really do not want to be shoved on by one of the blinds because calling and losing 3900 would make you the short stack. But folding and losing 1800 takes you down the 5400 while one of the blinds increases their stack to 5700 and takes the lead. So in this instance then a flop limp for 600 could serve to balance your strategy because one thing is certain, if you always raise on the button here then your opponents will simply either do the same to you or play back.
You could just catch the blinds with nothing and if the small blind folds and the big blind checks then you get to see a flop in position with a decent hand. If your opponent checks the flop then a c-bet into a T1500 pot would only need to be in the 800 range to create a fold.
Carl “The Dean” Sampson plays poker at www.pokerstars.co.uk