Ice's article on the web page is very useful on how to steal small pots on the flop, but then I ask myself how to defend against the same play. It's an open ended question, but I'm curious what your general strategy is, if you call these down often with marginal hands, if you pay particular attention to this and take notes on people.

A standard example would be that I have KJ for example in SB, and the flop is QJx. I usually don't bet out with second pair, and the 3-4 people in the hand check to the last guy, who bets out about size of the pot. It looks much less suspicious to me if someone else bets, but when the last one does it it's suspect.

Do you get into these types of hands or just let them steal the small pots? Do you do it with less than top pair? If you do, just call or raise? When I try calling I'm afraid it looks too weak and often the opponent forces the issue to get me to lay it down on the turn or river.

There's also the sandwich effect, that you have players acting after you, and you don't know if they call or were slowplaying a hand. It would seem like the best play is to raise, to get other people out and show strength, but then you pretty much have to bet strong the turn and risk a good amount of money.

Ice, any antidote to the good advice you are giving in that article?

i wouldn't call/raise that bet in early position unless they really try to steal in position a whole lot. with players left to act anyone coulda been slow playing their hands knowing that guy at the end was going to bet, and if theres 4 people in the hand and someone is trying to steal the pot he is trying to bluff too many people and wont make much money from these bets. i think i am too tight and dont take enough chances though so my reasoning might be totally off.

I fold normally.

I usually don't bother because i'm out of position. I try to get away from second pair type hands as well. With those...you're not even sure what card you need to win.

It's different if you're drawing to a straight or flush or something. Then I'll either go ahead and bet it, or checkraise.

By picking spots to steal first... I let it go when there are a bunch of people in between me and the original bet, but take initiative when it is me in the small blind with middle pair, the big blind, and the button or cut off and lead. If I don't lead I fold, unless I know the guy is a total yahoo and likely to betting on absolutely nothing and doesn't follow thru with aggression on the turn or river.