Blind steal
A late-position raise with a weak hand whose main purpose is to win the blinds and antes uncontested. Steals from the button and cutoff are a core part of tournament play.
Frequently asked questions
What is a blind steal in poker?
Opening from late position — the cutoff, button or small blind — with the main intention of winning the blinds without a fight, rather than because the hand is strong.
How wide should you steal?
Wide from the button, where only two players remain and both are out of position afterwards: half of all hands or more is defensible against passive opponents. Narrow it sharply against players who defend and three-bet often.
Why does stealing matter more in tournaments?
Because the blinds and antes keep rising, so the pot you are stealing grows relative to your stack. A player who stops stealing in a tournament loses chips simply by waiting, which is why late-position aggression is the core skill of the format.