Durk
Rising Star
Bronze Level
Hey Guys,
I wanted to put out a strategy post regarding small pocket pairs. I believe that playing small pocket pairs is such a commonly misplayed situation by so many low stakes players.
(Now just as a reminder my posts are for Live NLHE Cash Game Play)
So lets start out by talking a little math to start..
Your going to flop a set or better 10.5% of the time when you are dealt a pocket pair.
Set Mining
Ok so you are dealt 44, you want to try and hit a set and you have a $500 stack is it worth calling a 85 dollar raise or 3 bet?
the answer is simple.. No
If you think you have the best hand that is different. (although it is extremely hard playing small pocket pairs post flop if your not simply trying to hit a set) But we are set mining.
So in order to make money set mining we need to do some math...
If we are making a set or better 10.5% of the time then we have to make at least 10.5 times our pre flop investment... Make Sense?
This is a basic concept that a lot of amateur players don't think about.. if a tight player makes a pre flop raise or there's action that consists of a player having a big pocket pair.. we should Never be calling if we don't have 10.5X the pre flop raise in chips OR the Villain does not have more than 10.5X the pre flop raise left in his stack. Obviously this can get a bit trickier when its multiway but I want to keep this post relatively basic.
A rule of mine when I'm at the table is I always want at least 12X the pre flop investment in relative stacks in order to call a pre flop raise with a small pocket pair.
Incorporate this rule into your Cash Game Play and I can gaurantee it will help you start making consistent money long term playing poker!
Feel Free to reply with some feedback, some questions, or some clarification as I am always looking to start discussions with Players within the community!
Good Luck At The Tables Everyone!
-Durk
I wanted to put out a strategy post regarding small pocket pairs. I believe that playing small pocket pairs is such a commonly misplayed situation by so many low stakes players.
(Now just as a reminder my posts are for Live NLHE Cash Game Play)
So lets start out by talking a little math to start..
Your going to flop a set or better 10.5% of the time when you are dealt a pocket pair.
Set Mining
Ok so you are dealt 44, you want to try and hit a set and you have a $500 stack is it worth calling a 85 dollar raise or 3 bet?
the answer is simple.. No
If you think you have the best hand that is different. (although it is extremely hard playing small pocket pairs post flop if your not simply trying to hit a set) But we are set mining.
So in order to make money set mining we need to do some math...
If we are making a set or better 10.5% of the time then we have to make at least 10.5 times our pre flop investment... Make Sense?
This is a basic concept that a lot of amateur players don't think about.. if a tight player makes a pre flop raise or there's action that consists of a player having a big pocket pair.. we should Never be calling if we don't have 10.5X the pre flop raise in chips OR the Villain does not have more than 10.5X the pre flop raise left in his stack. Obviously this can get a bit trickier when its multiway but I want to keep this post relatively basic.
A rule of mine when I'm at the table is I always want at least 12X the pre flop investment in relative stacks in order to call a pre flop raise with a small pocket pair.
Incorporate this rule into your Cash Game Play and I can gaurantee it will help you start making consistent money long term playing poker!
Feel Free to reply with some feedback, some questions, or some clarification as I am always looking to start discussions with Players within the community!
Good Luck At The Tables Everyone!
-Durk