Pockets Preflop

How do you play pockets preflop?

If I have AA, QQ, or JJ. I usually try to suck people in by just calling but lately I haven't been earning to much chips doing that. I am thinking of changing up my strategy on how I play pockets. Now with lower pockets I tend to play a bit more agressive, I don't no why but it works for me and I usually take down the pot but it can backfire alot by me losing all/most of my chips. Any ideas on how I can improve?

I like to play big pocket pairs with a bog raise, especially if I'm in a good late position and have the chance to eat up some limpers. However, this can cause the mob to fold to you, but I always see this as a win, means my pocket pair wasn't cracked. For mid to low pocket pairs (anything from 88 down) I'll maybe see if I want to limp in and hit a set, otherwise I'm out... however, this does all depend on your position, for if I'm UTG then I won't play anything worse than 99, or if I'm late and there are plenty of callers, I'll muck and get away from what could be a raise or a bad flop...

Ah yes... pocket pairs... both my bread and butter and still yet the bane of my existence! LOL

No... but really... pocket pairs are interesting in that there are SO many variables that determine how I play them these days. Maybe that is why they have been kinder to me lately. In fact, I would say that of the different parts of my game that have actually improved over the last few months (probably because I haven't got to play as much... LOL) is my relationship with pocket pairs.

Nice big PPs like AA and KK (sometimes even QQ) I will usually play a bit gently PF, depending on my position, and then very aggressively later on. Of course, it always bears mentioning that starting cards are JUST CARDS... they are NOT A HAND.. you will need 5 cards for that so even with rockets I try to be smart and realizt that the flop can bring anything (especially in a multi-way pot). That said, I still often follow AA down the drain KNOWING I should fold them... it hurts to fold them... but... sometimes it has to be done! LOL

Other, say med PPs like JJ-99, I play more aggresively PF but still hope for a set but sometimes will still bet them depending on the texture of the board and the action.


Low PPs I usually just call depnding on the action and my position (I am always more aggressive in late position) and hope for the set... No set, No bet... thats my rule! LOL

But the truth is... everything depends really... YEAH I think I do better following the rules but there are a lot of factors to think about form board texture to opponent style and even what you had for dinner last night (although thats really only important in LIVE games... LOL ) ANYWAY thats enough... although I could go on and on and on about the freakin' contingencies that could probably go into to playing pocket pairs... I am still learning and that is one hard lesson to learn... I am hoping for some more suggestions!

How you play them can also vary on whether it's a STT, MTT or a ring cash game. Position, situation, stack size, reads on other players also come strongly into deciding how you play them. Don't believe there is one 'stock' or correct answer. Also depends on what table image you have created when you do play pockets.

Usually with any pocket pair ill be aggressive but depending on the table im at,i will raise preflop and bet the flop but if i get called on the flop i will slowdown and fold to a raise (unless i have an over pocket pair) but if i have a small pocket pair and im at a table where i think many will call a raise preflop i will limp in and fold to a raise. but i will usually always be agressive with jj qq kk aa.(depending on the sittuation if im near the bubble in a mtt i could fold jj maybe even kk).

There is no right or wrong answer to how to play high pocket pairs. I like to vary my strategy to keep the others guessing. If you have a player who is aggresive and raises everything then just call and suck him in. If you are in late position and some others have already bet then a raise or all in usually picks up at least one other on the way round again. Remember that even if you lose with your pocket pairs it does not mean you played it wrong it just means that the other guy got lucky.

At what stakes do you play?

Is this a cash game or tournament?

Yeah, it depends on what you're playing, cash games or tournaments.You can do big raises at cash games and raises of 3*BB in tournaments I think so,although I'm not completely sure if this is correct.

reraise a good amount preflop thatll get all the hands that dont need to be in the pot out

and if that doesnt work betting more on the flop will knock them out for sure if they stay around to see if they hit

Personally I try not to limp with AA or KK 95% of the time. I try to keep it to 2-3 handed. The last thing I want to do is get myself into a 6 way limped pot with AA and have no idea where I am in the hand. I`d rather just take the blinds and not go broke defnding the AA against random hands.