How to really play pockets 10s and under

For some reason I have had major problems playing pps 10s and under it seems everytime depending on postion and other factors of how many ppl are in the hand how aggressive they are and so forth and so on, like that I play it as I see it, but these hands have cost me deerly in the past and yet still continue to cost me money so i ask everyone how or what do u do when u pick up 10s and under and there so many ppl in the hand if u raise they call and then usually u end up missing the flop so how do u proceed with these hands, is limping the best option for them or what?

Ring or tourney?

Full ring cash game, 10's usually should play as a small to mid pocket pair. You are looking for another 10.

Even if the flop comes something like 2 4 9 rainbow, you have to be careful, its a good flop for 10's but you have to play a small pot with them, especially if more scary cards peel off.

Overall, just play them as you would 22-99 lol. 6 max is totally different though but that doesnt matter.

I was talking about rings, but I see, so I should play them very passively

I'll open (4x + 1/limper) from ANY position with ANY pocket pair (22 UTG = me raising). The only exception that I'll make is that I will limp along with 2 or more limpers from LP with < 99. I'll cbet on missed flops depending on number of callers, position, board texture, my table image, and my opponent(s).

Well still, it all depends on position and opponent too, but yea id say like 70-80% of the time id play 10's on FR fairly passive.

They are not a big hand and should be treated as such unless you are feeling creative.

In a ring game why would you ever be short stacked?

Because someones wiped you out lol

Auto Reload script takes care of that. I can lose it all and have a full stack again before the next hand is dealt.

Very very newbish question but I've never learned to auto reload? Is there just an option on the lobby's preferences or do you need something else to do that?

I know Full Tilt Poker just added auto reload as a lobby option but I'm not sure on Stars. I'm sure there are several AHK scripts to do it on Stars and maybe someone who plays there will chime in with the best one.

You could search overcards.com it.

In case anyone is still responding to this thread, how would you call this pair at a very aggressive table where people are betting with nothing?

I agree with that

However, I disagree with that. If you play a pocket pair (22-TT) and get a flop where you see you have top pair then I would suggest betting aggressively. At a general table, I'd probably bet a good amount of chips (3-5 times the big blind). With top pair 10's or less, you want to make sure all other players fold in case someone is holding a high card (ace, king, queen, or jack) and is looking to hit on the turn or river. If you get called or raised then you have to go to your reads. Either they have something that beats your pair (trips, two pair, higher pocket pair), a draw possibly (which you can tell of by looking at the board), or they could be bluffing trying to get you out of the pot.

Eh, no. Pre-Flop, I don't suggest raising hard with medium pair because someone could easily flop a higher pair or a draw.

Just call them and bet as less as possible. I am using your certain circumstance that you are up against aggressive players. Aggressive players should raise you and you can strike there.

This hasn't been asked - but against a tight table, I'd raise them 2-3 BB pre-flop. If you get a caller you're probably up against high cards so play the flop. If you see face cards or an ace on the flop - be careful. If not, try to get the tight player to fold. You don't want to let him see a cheap turn or river only for him to hit his high card.

never limp, always raise, thats all.

then see the flop

(unless its full ring 10 playahs)

woooot

so you'd raise with pocket 2's?

I'm just as confused as u are Sank

naruto, use my advice next time that you receive pocket pairs 10 and under and let me know what happens.

I don't play ring games that often but this strategy isn't good for tourneys. Is this a common strategy in cash games?

A lot of people will limp/call with small pocket pairs but they're basically screaming "Hey I have a small pair here. If I want to get all-in, it's because I hit my set!". When you raise with your pairs, your hand is more disguised when you hit, the pot is bigger making it easier to get your whole stack in the middle, and you have the initiative to possibly take the pot with a cbet when you miss.

Tournaments are completely different because of stack sizes relative to the blinds. 22 UTG in most tourney situations should go in the muck.

Fresh from the manual, taken today from the Absolute Poker school of Donk play.

Section 1A Playing Paired deuces - Tens.

When you find you have a pocket pair ( that is two of the same card ( no, not two hearts you numpty, I mean its a Three of hearts ( They look like the shape on your valentines card) with perhaps a three of clubs ( the ones that look like trees)) then you have two options. They are as follows.

Method Number 1

1) You move your mouse pointer to the button that says "ALL IN" and you press it. You will notice it takes all of those little chip thingys and place them in the centre of the table. They are your bet. You are now in the hands of the poker gods. If by some quirk of fate, someone is stupid enough to call you ( that means they put the same amount of chips from their stack into the centre too) then you are hoping above all other things that they do not have a pair in their hand which is higher than yours. ( ie if you have two cards with 3 on them, then you do not want them to have a pair which is 4 or higher).. If they have two cards with a two on them ( some peoiple call them deuces, dont ask me why but they do ) then you are happy.

However three cards are turned over. They are called the flop. Followed by a fourth card called the turn, and finally the fifth card called the river.

If you happen to hit another card that matches the two you've got ( not EXACTLY the same because then you would have a dodgy pack and poker is no fun with a dodgy pack ) then you have whats called a set, and unless they have a set too, or five cards in ascending numerical order ( eg 2-3-4-5-6 ) or five cards with the same funny shapes on, ( valentines, four sided triangle, trees or shovels ) then you win and you get all the chips that went into the middle. If however they have two cards that are higher in value than yours or one of the above hands, then you lose everything.

It should be noted that if you happen to get four of the same kind, then barring a miracle, you are guaranteed to win. Its not likely that anyone will have four cards in their hand better than the four you have.

This method can work, it can fail. Its basically a situation whereby you put all your chippy thingys in and hope like hell. One thing to remember is that if they dont have two cards the same in their hands before the flop, then you have a head start..


Method Number 2

This requires more patience and can mean a less fruitful return should you win, however it does mean the chances of you going bust are less as between each stage of the betting you have the chance to get out though folding a pocket pair is not advised.

You do not press the "ALL IN " button. Instead move your mouse pointy thingy to the "call" button and you press that instead.

This will remove a small sum from your stack of little round things and plaze it in the centre of the table. Again this is your bet, but notice how you havent put as many in. This means you do not lose as many should things go wrong. I however also means you could win less than you would hte other way... But hey.. You are a poker god.. You dont lose anyway..

In this situation there are things you need to be aware of. If say, for example, you have
a pair of twos, then you should perhaps watch out for anyone who bets at any stage in the proceedings. If for example the flop comes Ace, Ten, Nine and they press their "ALL IN" button, then there is the slight off chance they may have a higher pair than the one you have. But if you press your 'ALL IN" button in response then you can sit and hope that another two turns up. Dont discount the possibility. There are four twos in a pack so you have a one in thirteen chance of hitting another two..


Those are the two methods for playing lower pairs. If you follow this advice then there is every chance you can make ludicrous amounts of money from people. The pocket pair puts you in the most dominant position in poker because you have a pair and the chances are your opponent doesnt. You just need to try and hide the fact you have two cards that match from him. If he doesnt know you;ve got two of the same he could well match any bet you make and not know you have two matching cards. Imagine his surprise if he sees you've got a pair in your pocket cards. He wont be expecting that.....

I read an article awhile ago on playing pocket pairs. I know Tony G likes to limp with 66 thru 99 and he raises small pockets.

That is funny fcumred.. hilarious

fcumred - very creative and absolutely hilarious! I particularly like the "Four Sided Triangle"

All the time. But then again, I've also raised with 27os :| This is 6max NLHE btw.

Okay thanks, that's what I thought.

c9h13no3

Being a newbie, I'm curious as to what program that screenshot is from.

lol... okay... we all have our styles of play but I'm suggesting to this guy that he does not raise with pocket 2's because the only way that pocket 2's will lose is if everybody in the hand has nothing.

Completely wrong. If we're playing a .50/1 NL game and I raise from UTG with deuces to $4 and you call on the button with 99 (assume we both have 100bb stacks). The flop is K T 3 and I lead out for $6 who wins?

I wouldn't call a 4BB raise with 99.

Seriously???? You're missing your biggest opportunity to make $$. If you're a tourney player I understand, but if you're playing rings you'd be better off burning your $$ than folding 99 on the button to a EP raise from a tight, aggressive player such as myself.

Even if you fold your nines preflop (seriously please don't!), my deuces have just beat your nines without flopping a set.

Hold'em Manager

And all serious discussion now goes out the window.

Um, can I refer you to a microstakes ring guide?

http://www.cardschat.com/f11/10k-pos...e-long-112835/

I dont know any tight player who would play 22 this aggressively.

My stats are 15/12/4. Would you call that loose?

How to play pocket pairs?

Same principle as sex...stick them in and hope you don't get anything painful in return.