How to play pocket pairs

Can someone give me advice how to play pocket pairs? Especially pocket pairs between 2's and 10's before the flop and what to do when you don't make a set on the flop?

That last post was a bit COMPLICATED! I'll TRY to keep it simpeler---When in EARLY position-limp w/22-99----Middle position-(mp1-mp3)--RAISE w/6-6+--limp 22-55----Late Position-(CO-SB)-Raise w/2-2+-----You could raise 3Xs BB plus 1Xbb each limper. And it all depends on you reads, too--and how you're playing ie.--LAG or TAG. I like playing TAG myself! GL! Oh, you don't hit the set, again, here's that word, DEPENDS--on how the betting is going, table reads, etc--really not enough info to say---

Thanks, your answer is reallly clear to me. After the flop when I don't make a set I often check/fold when there are 2-3 overcards on the flop. When there is 1 overcard on the flop I raise half a pot. When there are no overcards on the flop I raise the pot (or 3/4).
Is this a good strategy?

There's no simple optimal formula for playing small pocket pairs. If there were, everyone would play them the same way. One major reason is that the factors that can impact your choice of action depend on more than just the cards. As a fairly simple example, if you miss the flop, it's much better to bet into someone who plays weak tight and thus will often fold hands like a couple of overcards or pairs below top pair than into someone else who will call or even raise with those same hands.

really nice, but isn't better folding pockets like 22-55? they're very low, and almost all the time appears something better at the flop.

but i agree that everything depends on your reads and how the table is going.

I think these cards are worth a limp and sometimes a raise, especially if the table is weak/tight giving you fold equity or you have good position. Frankly, playing ATC on the button at a weak table can be profitable if you're willing to bet the pot on an unraised flop, and a pocket pair is better than ATC. The odds of flopping a set or better are 7.5:1, and if you do hit the flop, there's a good chance you'll win better than an 8:1 return on your initial call. If the table makes a post-flop call cheap, the odds of hitting a set or better by the river are 4.2:1 (from pre-flop, not post-). These hidden sets are some of the most profitable hands in poker, especially if opponent plays top pair or two pair strong. Yes, you'll lose most hands with small pocket pairs, but it's not about winning hands, it's about winning money. Sometimes you get beat set over set, but not too often.

I'll limp with a small pocket pair any time I can, raise in late position and call some raises in later positions if the conditions are right.
Dust Chinstrap aka Gary the Worden

Unless you have 10's or better, why would you want to raise limpers out of a pot? The more in the pot the more likely you are to get action if you flop a set. If only 1 limper or I am opening I raise them other than that I call with limpers.

Right. If several limpers, you can play your small PP as a drawing hand like suited connectors. That's really what it is, unless you play it aggressively, in which case you're trying to establish an image and are willing to consider CBs on a missed flop. The limp is probably safer and potentially more profitable. Bigger pairs deserve more protection.

On the other hand, especially if you're playing against skilled and observant opposition, you want to disguise your hands by playing them more consistently, regardless of holes. You don't want your bets to telegraph "small pair" or "big pair" because you always play one one way and the other another way. Against more skilled opponents, you'll have fewer limping opportunities anyway. Then, it's either raise or fold. Ans since more pots are raised, you'll probably be folding more of those small pocket pairs. And if you're in early position, you're either going to want to fold or make a standard raise - not a mini-raise.

If you like limping, look for tables with a big percentage of players seeing the flop. If you're not yet a very good player (be honest), avoid those tougher tables.


G the W

You DON'T want to raise them out--you want them to call your bet and NOT raise YOU out! They call and there IS more money in the pot.

Before I answer, cash or tourneys?

Hello,

I have a similar or related question. When do you raise or call an all in bet from another player. jacks or better queens or better ?? ect.... maybe you should just fold unless you have ace's ( this is a pre flop question ) thanks for your help jeff

i think it depends on your own table image, have you been tight or loose? limping in can be fun and try to outplay them if you don't hit, a raise lets you know where you stand...and the whole beauty is its easy to get away from

Depends. Not only on all the factors listed above, but on stack size.

I love low pocket pairs in the right position with the right implied odds, so you have to consider stack size. If it costs more than about 12% of your stack to see the flop, you're not getting the right risk/reward ratio. Factoring in the times you hit your set, but don't get paid off (why do those flushes always hit when I have a set?) If you don't have at least 8 pre-flop raise, lay em down.

Sure wish I was at the level I didn't have to play so mathematically

I like the limp witith 77+, fold 66-, unless I'm on the BB. I like to push with 99+ and will not hesitate to fold on a reraise. One thing I have heard and earned is that there is two ways to play pocket JJ's..neither is very good.

I don't mind slow playing the AA's either, but, reconizing, it may be very dangerous.

There are 3 ways to play pkt Jacks an' ALL of them are wrong!! Just ask anybody I've played with about me and Jacks!!! Aaaarrrrrgggg!!!!

no not true.
Low pockets can and do pay off big time, if your in a game with me i will show you.
listen to rick it will help your game out alot more then you think, and even pros say to play them

Here you go
http://www.cardschat.com/f11/10k-pos...e-long-112835/
i also use it in sit&gos

I would limp in and if their was a raise i would fold with 2-2 through 9-9 unless i'm on the button (Late possition) with a healthy chipstack. Then i would probably call up to a 5x raise trying to bust my opponets AK with trips but if i don't hit a set im outta there unless i have a overpair then i'm gonna stick around.

Most of the time the correct answer to such a general question is going to be it depends on the type of game, type of players, your image, your relative stack size, etc. But your post does bring up one area that I am keenly interested in. What do you do when you hit your set? The first decision is will you bet or check your set? I have tried both and here is what I've found. If there was little pre-flop action (limpers or small raises), then betting usually results in your opponents folding. If there was some pre-flop action (standard raises) and big card have come on the flop, then I have found a bet is more likely to be called or re-raised. Another aspect I take into account in decidng whether to bet or check on the flop is the texture of the flop. For instance have three cards of the same suit hit the board or three connected cards hit the board. I will usually bet half to 3/4 of the pot on these boards to gather information. If I get any callers, then I usually slow down and may fold if my hand doesn't improve. If I get re-raised, then I make my decision based on whether I read my opponent to be the type of player to raise like this with a draw or will raise like this with a made hand trying to appear to be on the draw. I'm just scratching the surface of one of your points but my response is getting pretty long. Hope you find something useful in it.

Yes it is useful but wait till you get in a game with me.

when I have pocket pairs 2-4, i usually fold. 5+, i generally call to at least see the flop. if i hit a set 5-9, ill play it, otherwise i fold

i think the most important thing with pocket pairs is position. Sure you would fold 66 UTG preflop but it's definitely a raising hand when you're on the button and there only are 2 or 3 players in the hand. of course you then have to know when you're beat if the flop comes out unfavourably but your position will allow you to lose the min

raise raise raise and less limp ..isolate and put your opponents on ranges before you fold ur PP

I agree, position is the key here when deciding to play a PP.
Here is some valuable info I had picked up recently about raising with PP's from HOH vol.1.
EP(1st and 2nd) TT+, MP(3 through 6) 88+ and LP (7 through 9) 77+.

i play the low pp and seem to do alot better then with the high (10-A)
it be just me but i think that more people when they have one high card and they chase for that