Lesson 40 [Intermediate] Blocker Basics

A blocker is when your cards reduce the opponent's hand possibilities.

Basic Strategy

Utilize blockers to increase the success rate of bluffs and value bets.

Basic premises:

• 6-max cash game, 100BB stack
• Blocker = Your hand's cards make it difficult for the opponent to form a specific hand.
• Primarily used in preflop 3-bets and river bluffs.

Key principles of blockers:

1. Ace Blocker (Most Powerful)

If you hold an Ace, the opponent's probability of having premium hands like AK, AQ, AA decreases.

• Usage situations: Preflop 3-bet bluff, River bluff
• Good hands: A5s, A4s, A3s, A2s (weak suited Ax)
• Effect: Opponent's premium combos decrease, increasing fold probability

2. Nut Flush Blocker

On a flush board, if you hold an Ace, the opponent cannot have the nut flush.

• Usage situations: River bluff or bluff catcher on a flush board
• Example: Holding A♠ on a K♠Q♠7♠ board
• Effect: Opponent does not have the nut flush, increasing bluff success rate

3. Broadway Blocker

If you hold a King or Queen, the opponent's probability of having strong Broadways like AK, KQ decreases.

• Usage situations: On a K-high or Q-high board
• Example: Holding Kx or Qx on a K-9-3 board
• Effect: Opponent's strong Kx combos decrease

Why use blockers:

1. Increased fold probability: The opponent's likelihood of having strong hands decreases, increasing their probability of folding.
2. Value bet stability: The opponent's likelihood of having the nuts is low, making value bets safer.
3. Bluff efficiency: The bluff success rate increases, increasing EV.

Responses by Situation

1. Utilizing Ace Blockers for Preflop 3-bet Bluffs

Against an opponent's open raise, you 3-bet bluff with weak suited Ax hands like A5s, A4s. An Ace blocker reduces the opponent's probability of having AK, AQ, AA, increasing their fold probability. A5s~A2s are good bluff candidates because they have playability on the flop even if 3-bet.

2. Bluffing with a Nut Flush Blocker on a Flush Board

On a flush board like K♠9♠3♠, if you hold A♠, the opponent cannot have the nut flush. When bluffing on the river, the opponent is more likely to fold a second nut flush. A nut blocker justifies a bold bluff.

3. Bluffing a K-High Board with a Broadway Blocker

On a K-high board like K-7-2, if you hold Ax or Qx, the opponent's combos for Kx decrease. You can increase bluff success rate by blocking strong Kx hands like AK, KQ.

4. Decrease Bluff Frequency When Without Blockers

Hands with no blockers at all (like J9o, T8o) cannot block the opponent's strong hands. With such hands, it's efficient to reduce bluff frequency and instead focus bluffs with hands that have good blockers.

Things to Consider

When utilizing blockers, try to think in this order:

1. What strong hands could the opponent have? AK? Nut flush? Kx?
2. Does my hand block it? Holding an Ace? Holding a nut card?
3. How significant is the blocking effect? Are many premium combos reduced?
4. Bluff or value bet: Bluff utilizing blockers? Safe value bet due to no blockers?
5. Compare with alternative hands: Are there other hands with better blockers?

Example Hand Analysis

Example 1: Utilizing Ace Blockers for Preflop 3-bet Bluffs

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: BB (Big Blind)
Preflop: CO raises $6, BTN folds, SB folds, BB receives A♠5♠
Pot: $7

Thought Process:

1. “Who has a structural advantage on this board?”
   → CO's open range is approximately 27-30%. A♠5♠ is a weak hand but holds an Ace blocker.
2. “What is my hand's role within the range?”
   → A♠5♠ is a 3-bet bluff range. The Ace blocks CO's AK, AQ, AA combos.
3. “Does the opponent have enough hands to fold / do they call a lot?”
   → Ace blocker reduces premium hand probability. CO is expected to fold approximately 60-70%.

Conclusion: 3-bet $18

Comment: A5s is a typical hand for preflop 3-bet bluffs. An Ace blocker blocks the opponent's AK, AQ, AA, increasing fold probability. If you held 75s without an Ace, the opponent would have a higher probability of holding premium hands, leading to a lower bluff success rate. The Ace blocker is a very important factor in 3-bet bluffs.

Example 2: Bluffing with a Nut Blocker on a Flush Board

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: BTN (Button, In-position)
Preflop: CO folds, BTN raises $6, SB folds, BB calls $5
Hero Hand: A♦9♥
Flop: K♦7♦3♦ (Pot $13), BB checks, BTN bets $8, BB calls
Turn: 2♣ (Pot $29), BB checks, BTN bets $20, BB calls
River: 6♠ (Pot $69), BB checks, BTN ?

Thought Process:

1. “Who has a structural advantage on this board?”
   → It's a flush board, so both players can have a flush. However, Hero holds A♦ nut blocker.
2. “What is my hand's role within the range?”
   → A♦9♥ is air, but it's a nut flush blocker. BB cannot have the nut flush (A♦x♦).
3. “Does the opponent have enough hands to fold / do they call a lot?”
   → If BB has a second nut flush (K♦x♦, Q♦x♦) or Kx, there's a possibility of folding to a large bet.

Conclusion: Bet $50 (approx. 3/4 pot)

Comment: On a flush board, an A♦ blocker is a powerful bluffing tool. Since BB cannot have the nut flush, they are likely to fold a second nut flush or Kx. If you held 9♥8♥ without a blocker, BB could have the nut flush, making the bluff much riskier.

Example 3: Bluffing a K-High Board with a Broadway Blocker

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: CO (Cutoff, In-position)
Preflop: CO raises $6, BTN folds, SB folds, BB calls $5
Hero Hand: A♠Q♥
Flop: K♣7♦2♠ (Pot $13), BB checks, CO bets $8, BB calls
Turn: 9♠ (Pot $29), BB checks, CO bets $20, BB calls
River: 3♥ (Pot $69), BB checks, CO ?

Thought Process:

1. “Who has a structural advantage on this board?”
   → On a K-high board, CO has a range advantage. A♠Q♥ holds Ace and Queen blockers.
2. “What is my hand's role within the range?”
   → A♠Q♥ is complete air. However, it blocks AK, KQ combos, reducing the opponent's strong Kx probability.
3. “Does the opponent have enough hands to fold / do they call a lot?”
   → If BB has weak Kx (K9, KT, KJ) or a middle pair, there's a possibility of folding to a large bet.

Conclusion: Bet $45 (approx. 2/3 pot)

Comment: AQ is a good bluff hand on a K-high board. The Ace blocks AK and the Queen blocks KQ, reducing the opponent's strong Kx combos. If you held 98o, without blockers, the opponent would have a higher probability of holding AK, KQ, leading to a lower bluff success rate.

Example 4: Comparing Hands Without Blockers vs. Hands With Blockers

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: BB (Big Blind)
Preflop: MP raises $6, CO folds, BTN folds, SB folds, BB ?
Scenario A: BB receives J♠9♠
Scenario B: BB receives A♠4♠

Thought Process:

Scenario A (J♠9♠):

• Blockers: None (J and 9 cannot block MP's premium hands)
• MP's probability of having AK, AQ, AA, KK: High
• 3-bet bluff success rate: Low
• Recommended action: Call or fold

Scenario B (A♠4♠):

• Blockers: Strong (Ace blocks AK, AQ, AA)
• MP's probability of having premium hands: Low
• 3-bet bluff success rate: High
• Recommended action: 3-bet $18 (bluff)

Conclusion: A♠4♠ 3-bet, J♠9♠ call/fold

Comment: Even with the same suited hand, the blocker effect can differ significantly. A4s is suitable for a 3-bet bluff due to the Ace blocker, but J9s, lacking blockers, is a better choice for a call or fold rather than a 3-bet. Considering blockers when selecting bluff hands can significantly improve EV.

Key Patterns Summary

Pattern 1: Blocker = Your cards reduce the opponent's specific hand possibilities

Pattern 2: Ace blocker is the most powerful (blocks AK, AQ, AA)

Pattern 3: Bluff on a flush board with a nut flush blocker

Pattern 4: Bluff K/Q-high boards with a Broadway blocker

Pattern 5: Preflop 3-bet bluffs are A5s~A2s (Ace blocker)

Pattern 6: If you have a blocker, bluff success rate increases

Pattern 7: If you don't have a blocker, bluff frequency decreases

Pattern 8: Blockers are a tool to increase fold probability

Quiz

Question 1
What is the best hand for a preflop 3-bet bluff?

A) K9s
B) Q9s
C) A5s
D) J9s

Question 2
What is the best hand for a river bluff on a K♠9♠3♠ flush board?

A) Q♥J♥
B) A♠7♣
C) 9♥8♥
D) T♥9♦

Question 3
Which premium hands does an Ace blocker block?

A) KK, QQ
B) AK, AQ, AA
C) JJ, TT
D) All pairs

Question 4
What is the main effect of a blocker?

A) Makes my hand stronger
B) Reduces the opponent's probability of specific strong hands, increasing fold probability
C) Increases the pot
D) Increases equity

Question 5
What is the best hand for a bluff on a K-7-2 rainbow board?

A) 98o (no blockers)
B) AQ (Ace and Queen blockers)
C) 76s (no blockers)
D) JT (no blockers)

Answers and Explanations

Question Answer Explanation Question 1 C) A5s A5s is a typical hand for preflop 3-bet bluffs. An Ace blocker blocks the opponent's AK, AQ, AA, increasing fold probability. K9s, Q9s, J9s have weak or no blocker effect, resulting in a lower 3-bet bluff success rate. A5s~A2s are good 3-bet bluff candidates because they have playability on the flop in addition to the Ace blocker. Question 2 B) A♠7♣ On a flush board, if you hold A♠, the opponent cannot have the nut flush (A♠x♠). This is a powerful bluffing tool, increasing the opponent's likelihood of folding a second nut flush or Kx. Q♥J♥, 9♥8♥, T♥9♦ have no blockers, so the opponent could have the nut flush, making bluffs risky. Question 3 B) AK, AQ, AA An Ace blocker blocks premium hands that include an Ace. If you hold an Ace, the number of combos for the opponent to make AK, AQ, AA significantly decreases. For example, if you hold A♠, the opponent's AK combos decrease from 16 to 12. Pairs like KK, QQ are unrelated to an Ace, so they are not blocked. Question 4 B) Reduces the opponent's probability of specific strong hands, increasing fold probability The main effect of a blocker is to reduce the number of combos the opponent can have for specific strong hands. This relatively increases the opponent's probability of having weaker hands, and their likelihood of folding to a bluff or value bet increases. A blocker itself does not make your hand stronger or increase equity. Question 5 B) AQ (Ace and Queen blockers) On a K-high board, AQ is a good bluff hand. The Ace blocks AK and the Queen blocks KQ, reducing the opponent's strong Kx combos. 98o, 76s, JT have no blockers, so the opponent has a higher probability of holding AK, KQ, leading to a lower bluff success rate. Considering blockers when selecting bluff hands can improve EV.