In the context of poker, the term “defending” usually refers to the action of a player who chooses to call (match bets) or even increase the bet (raise) in response to an opponent’s bet or raise, despite the fact that they may not have a very strong hand. Defending may be used for various purposes:

Defending blinds: This type of defense is often linked to small and big blinds in Texas hold ‘em and Omaha hold ‘em. Players who sit in the small and big blind positions sometimes decide to defend their blinds by calling or raising, even if they don’t have a very strong hand, in order to prevent the loss of their mandatory bets.

Defense from a bluff: Sometimes, players may defend their hand to head off an opponent’s bluff. They can call or raise to show the opponent that they have strong cards and are ready to play the hand.

Defense from aggressive opponents: If a player notices that an opponent raises or bluffs too often, they may decide to defend their hands to control the situation and make their opponent less aggressive.

Defending is a tactic which players use to fight for control over the pot, protect their chips, and maximize their possibilities in the hand. However, it’s important to remember that defending should be justified and based on analysis of the strength of your hand and the style of play of your opponents.