Big pairs strategy

I want to ask you guys what you think the best strategy is for playing the big pairs QQ-AA in cash games, when someone already raied the pot. Generally, of course.

1) I've been playing 50NL and I noticed if I re-raise with them, 80% or more of times the original raisers will fold. But if I just call, I risk getting more people into the pot and even if not, I won't be able to get alot of money from them (not talking about the really loose players etc.) just your basic continuation bet - bluff most times.

So in your experience which strategy pays off best, re-raise or just call?

2) If I'm in late position and everyone but the blinds folded, which do you think is best, raise and risk getting just the blinds which happens most times or try to slow play? I favor raising still, since I think it brings more money, but asking your opinion as well...

P.S. : Sorry if this has been covered already!

Raise.

By calling you give them their equity in the pot for free (which even for 22 is substantial with implied odds).

You need to 3bet your big pocket pairs so that they're in your 3betting range, if your opponents really fold 80% of the time to 3bets (and they don't, it's closer to 65%-70% unless you're a nit) then you should be 3betting light (a lot), a raise of 3x/4x their bet will show a proffit with any two cards. The only way you can 3bet light is by still having big pocket pairs in your range.
In other words: If they fold too much to 3bets, that's what you should be exploiting.

Also, playing one pair hands post flop is so much easier and more proffitable when the pot is big relative to the stacks so building a pot pre-flop is very, very good.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know.

I already do the 3bet thing from late position but was just disappointed on the low profit of most my big pairs. Guess there's no other way though...

If your profit is low then you're either getting bad variance on your big pocket pairs or you're over valuing them postflop.

depends if i'm short-stacked or not. If i'm short stacked, I will all in becuase I desperately need the chips. Otherwise,

I follow this Decisions tree i think:

-If Early in the Rotation, call since this allows more players to enter, increasing the potential for a huge pot.

If Late in the Rotation (i.e. many callers to the raise) --> Re-raise to double or triple. This drops out about 1/2 the players and adds to the amount of chips in the pot significantly since the remainder have to call you (or if they raise/all in, even better). It also reduces the variance of players cards to high cards, so I know i am unlikely to get caught by a low cards on the flop combined with someone's cards that form a straight or a 2 pair.

I agree, nearly always raise these. QQ looks beautiful until a K, an A, or worse, both hit the flop. Then where are you? Getting set mined absolutely kills me. Little things like standard raising AA and getting a caller or two. Garbage flop, but they call a PSB. Crap. They might be morons who think I'm bluffing and their paired 3 is good. The might be morons who played garbage and correctly figure their 2 pair is good. They might be decent players who figured that if their pocket 4s hit the flop, they stand a decent chance of stacking some poor sucker like me.

QQ-AA are the three best hands preflop. They're worth a reraise. Just taking the pot down 80% of the time is not a bad thing.

RF

All right you guys made your points, I understood them and will follow

Just a note to lawd : I was talking about ring/cash games, so short stack doesn't/shouldn't apply

If just the blinds are in I like to raise to make it look like I am trying to steal the blinds. If I get any raises or re raises with As I will go all in, with Ks I call the raises and re raises an all ins, Qs I may fold the all ins depending on the reads on who is in the pot.

budebuzz said:

If just the blinds are in I like to raise to make it look like I am trying to steal the blinds. If I get any raises or re raises with As I will go all in, with Ks I call the raises and re raises an all ins, Qs I may fold the all ins depending on the reads on who is in the pot.

Click to expand...

Interesting point. But then, if you suspect their re-raises might be just bluffs because they're thinking you want to steal the pot, isn't it better to just call them and steal their cbet(s) ?

I've seen alot of people re-raise the button/CO from the blinds only to fold to another raise or all in...

No, I meant if others were in re-raising I would go all in with As to isolate hopefully to one caller. If I had Ks or Qs with other re raisers I am calling or maybe folding (not likely pre flop lol).

Raise if no one raised already. And if u are in position raise hard 5x BB. Do not give anyone the chance to see the flop for free to speculate some hands, and also if u raise u'll get information on others hands. i do not think someone with at least AQ will call, and if they call u will know to keep an eye on A or K after the flop.

If u are reraised than it's up to the readings u made on that player before. I went sometimes all in after an reraise with QQ in my hand and i didn't trust my readings. And when i saw eather KK or AA i just wanted to puke.

You cant help that swingro, only if you go by feeling I guess or know the other players are super tight

alfrenri, is that form a book? It seems too general for me...

On Cash Tables, 3-betting 100% of the time with big pairs (but I'm also 3-betting with stuff like 97s to balance my 3-bet range).

In tournament style poker... 'it depends'. If I'm short and feel that by just flatting the raiser I can entice a player to try a squeeze play then I might consider this. OR if I'm getting short and raiser will often fold to 3bet but they also tend to cbet a high%, then I might flat. If raiser is a CC donk who'll call me down light with AJo (< do you know who you are... hee hee hee.. private joke), then I'll shove, etc. etc.