Playing small pocket pairs?

M

Mendex

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jan 27, 2017
Total posts
16
Chips
0
Hi all, I have been playing cash games on pokerstars mainly 25nl. I was wondering if it makes sense to set mine with small pocket pairs say 66 and under, coz more often than not I am getting stacked agaist higher sets. What are your toughts on it? I am wondring if it is more profitable to avoid playing small all completely? Thanks
 
R

rhombus

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Total posts
2,601
Chips
0
Hi all, I have been playing cash games on pokerstars mainly 25nl. I was wondering if it makes sense to set mine with small pocket pairs say 66 and under, coz more often than not I am getting stacked agaist higher sets. What are your toughts on it? I am wondring if it is more profitable to avoid playing small all completely? Thanks

Dont be put off by getting stacked by a higher set, thats just a cooler and doesnt happen often
 
Q

QA77

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Jan 30, 2017
Total posts
504
Awards
1
Chips
3
It definitely makes sense to set mine. You should make a good amount of money once you hit your set. Sometimes you run into other sets but you shouldn't worry about it.
 
Masi2197

Masi2197

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Total posts
340
Chips
0
Pairs like 66 77 88 44 33 22 55 are relatively good to play a middle bet since if you flop one of your cards you will have a very strong hand and difficult to knock, so everything depends on your position, the size of The bet and the amount of players ...
 
M

masha535

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 2, 2015
Total posts
256
Chips
0
I love to play small pairs if you catch a monster on the flop , good you win !!!!:D
 
kenzohim

kenzohim

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 6, 2014
Total posts
329
Chips
0
All pairs are Gd! Just base on ur position!
late position all pair can play ..
Early position under 7s I will fold ,if that day running gd , may play all pairs
 
coolDadJimbo

coolDadJimbo

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 3, 2014
Total posts
141
Awards
1
Chips
1
...i like calling a big raise with small pairs before the flop... you can expect you'r opponent has AK or broadway pair...

if you hit your trips you can trap nicely.... if you don't hit trips and there is no A or K on the board you can call a c-bet on the flop and then re-evaluate if you face a turn bet...

sometimes i re-raise small pairs preflop if i have a few callers (read dependent) ahead and i'm late position... sometimes they fold and my small pair wins.... or they call and i hit the trips... or i miss i let 'em go easily...
 
Andrei Korolev

Andrei Korolev

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 16, 2015
Total posts
3,014
Chips
0
To act from a position with small pairs and connectors are a great idea ...
 
M

matiusaa

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Total posts
779
Chips
0
Yes you should be playing them, if you play against players who won't stack with tptk then you need to be a little carefull when then want to stack, but they can be played profitable. I don't see any reason of why not playing them at all
 
B

bnasp2

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Total posts
606
Chips
0
Well, setmining needs couple of conditions to be profitable. Under setmining I mean => you get set, you almost never fold. Not unless its tight opponent and super-duper wet board.

For profitable setmining:
- deep enough effective stacks (30-100 BB)
- too deep stacks cannot be just used for setmining (over 100BBs). You need to be able to play postflop with or without a set.
- opponents which will let you steal blinds at least sometimes
- opponents which will call from time to time (not opponents which will fold or 3bet).
- AND opponents willing to build big pot with some TPTK or two pairs.

And that last condition is becoming tricky on NL25 and higher stakes. At these days the opponents there will not give you so much part of stack with weak hands like TPTK. Not unless you are known as super agro maniac.

I expect from the question you have more tight image. You will hit set to higher set at very rare occasions, but its ONLY in those occasions where clever opponent is willing to go all-in.

So my answer: you can keep setmining with low pairs, but what you need is extend your moves with the rest of cards. So your setmining is more hidden, and your bet on flop/turn with set are more balanced between monsters and bluffs.
 
cheapseats76

cheapseats76

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Total posts
133
Chips
0
I think in order to play small pockets say 88 and down the only thing your really doing is being set minded. How often are a pair of 8's gonna take down a pot...very rarely. Once you hit your set I would almost never fold cause the chances of the other player having a set as well is pretty low. The higher up in stakes you go the less likely someone will stack off on you with TPTK but it does happen. Just look to squeeze as much as you can when you do hit. 25NL is on the cusp of when players start to become more aware of what there opponents are trying to do and stop just playing there cards. Good luck on the felts!
 
P

Pessoa

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 1, 2017
Total posts
94
Chips
0
Hi all, I have been playing cash games on pokerstars mainly 25nl. I was wondering if it makes sense to set mine with small pocket pairs say 66 and under, coz more often than not I am getting stacked agaist higher sets. What are your toughts on it? I am wondring if it is more profitable to avoid playing small all completely? Thanks

set vs set is deadly, but set vs top pair is also deadly for your opponent.
So i really love to play small pockets.
 
B

braveslice

Pull-ups!
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Total posts
1,988
Chips
0
Yes you should be playing them, if you play against players who won't stack with tptk then you need to be a little carefull when then want to stack, but they can be played profitable. I don't see any reason of why not playing them at all

+1

At NL5 I fold now small pairs OOP against nittier (nit tags, nits are not that good on folding) players who are able to fold TPTK easily to raise even on the flop.
 
TheHulk7

TheHulk7

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2017
Total posts
764
Awards
5
Chips
4
From the button you can play all pocket pairs. Of course, a lot depends on the other players.. If a few players before you raised, you should throw your small pocket pairs and wait for a better hand..
 
BlackJesus

BlackJesus

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 9, 2016
Total posts
861
Chips
0
1 vs 1 it is doubtful its worth it because even if u hit trips (approx 20% chance till river) theres high chance one player will fold against your notable bets. With 2 or more players its completely different picture. From early position I wouldnt play small pairs.
 
lcid86

lcid86

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Total posts
3,191
Awards
9
US
Chips
418
I found myself set mining way too often our of position. was getting raised and having to fold. big leak in my game.
 
Sergiy777

Sergiy777

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Total posts
149
Awards
1
Chips
1
It's Weird But I More Often Win With Poket 33 And 22 Then Poket KK :D
 
C

chronical

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 15, 2014
Total posts
1,128
Awards
1
Chips
1
yes,even small raises if the table is not overly aggro. you are setmining so dont call to big of 3bets
 
antonis32123

antonis32123

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Total posts
6,362
Awards
20
GR
Chips
249
I don't know about high stakes , bnasp2 said it very well imo . And for 6 max , I lack of the experience , don't know the odds there for a set over set , but on 9 max I see it , not rarily , and then stacks are changing hands . I don't like playing on 9 max small pairs , smaller than 99 , I try to avoid it :(

.
.
 

Attachments

  • pokerstars 2.jpg
    pokerstars 2.jpg
    132 KB · Views: 39
B

braveslice

Pull-ups!
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Total posts
1,988
Chips
0
For new set miners (not for OP, he surely knows way more, but), you should start here: https://www.cardschat.com/set-mining-poker.php

Recap from the link: More deep you are the better. The basics rule, for starting set miners says the following: You need to be able to win at least 20x more than what is asked.

For OP: I honestly think playing for stacks every time you have a set is wrong against many player types. I also have seen good players on twitch going for check line and not stacking mode in set vs set situations. Not many times, but still...
 
D

doom

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Total posts
570
Awards
1
RS
Chips
87
small pairs are good for steal and resteal on 6 max and you can play them on almost all position full table is another story
 
P

plyto777

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Total posts
148
Awards
1
Chips
9
I love to play small pairs if you catch a monster on the flop , good you win !!!!:D

agree with you. small pairs well hidden! And when you get to the set, you can win a good))
 
Jauheni Danilenka

Jauheni Danilenka

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Total posts
108
Chips
0
Small or medium pocket pair - it's a great chance to get three or setjan. It can be a powerful combination. But much depends on the board, on your position and stack size. Try as possible, but be careful!
 
Jauheni Danilenka

Jauheni Danilenka

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Total posts
108
Chips
0
I don't know about high stakes , bnasp2 said it very well imo . And for 6 max , I lack of the experience , don't know the odds there for a set over set , but on 9 max I see it , not rarily , and then stacks are changing hands . I don't like playing on 9 max small pairs , smaller than 99 , I try to avoid it :(

.
.
The probability that several (3 or more) players will collect a set or a full house is small. Your case - odnoiz few matches! Again, fold a set on the flop silly, but everything depends on the actions of competitors. If the player strongly aggressive, responds to your raise or re-raise 3-bet, you should consider and do not rush to put your entire stack.
 
A

armher

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 16, 2016
Total posts
332
Chips
0
I am always going all in with small pairs in pre flop
 
Top