How to play middle pair???

O

omote23

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 28, 2015
Total posts
115
Chips
0
Middle pair.. It is one of the most marginal hands on NL holdem, which is really common to see (E.g you have 88 flop comes T 6 2 rainbow) Many people said middle pair is considered as a trash hand and do check-fold. But I think this is really serious leak. Especially, in the tournament, most players don't have a time to wait good hands. So they raise with marginal hands like KT J9 T9s etc... and even shove all-in with middle pair.
I think I'm losing on Cash game (2NL...) and tournament because I can't handle the middle pair...

How to play middle pair on 2NL cash game and tournament?
 
ConDeck

ConDeck

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 14, 2015
Total posts
973
Chips
0
Feel like I say this a lot, but there is no one rule. There are so many factors affecting optimal play here. Perhaps post hand histories of the sorts of situations you struggle with? Then we can help...
 
Fenix7

Fenix7

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Total posts
205
Awards
1
Chips
1
The game with middle pairs is a speculative game because I rely on the concept of implied odds, I am assuming that I will pay if connect my Set. Therefore it is necessary to play them in a multiplayer pot where it increases the likelihood that an opponent pay me.
 
Fenix7

Fenix7

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Total posts
205
Awards
1
Chips
1
Our Options:

No set, no bet.

overpair
It turns there are low cards on flop, we have an overpair and also a problem.
In these cases the position is determinative. If we play
in the last or penultimate position and the pot is not open bet 3/4 or the pot, and if we do not win the pot immediately, give us a free card on the turn.

if we connect our Set, we know that make.
 
PLAYINBIG

PLAYINBIG

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Total posts
1,373
Awards
6
Chips
0
If I am 10 bb or less and players to my right have limped into the pot,I am pushing pocket 8's all in pre flop ,or I am folding pre flop.No 3x bb bets for me, go big or fold.I might be wrong but that's how I would play it.Same also if I was on the bb and the button 3 bet trying to steal a blind.
 
fortopyan

fortopyan

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 15, 2011
Total posts
377
Awards
1
Chips
9
Our main goal playing pocket pairs in MTTs the tournament the following:
- Catch the set, and correctly cast it
- Being in position post flop to take the pot.
Never play the limp pocket pairs is not profitable to do
 
CaioCesar009

CaioCesar009

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 28, 2016
Total posts
83
Chips
0
if you have much BB you can limp to see the flop :)
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Total posts
4,734
Awards
14
Chips
77
this is a hard question to answer without stack depth, with over 30 bbs you could limp stab,or raise small......at 10bbs its probably and open shove from utg+4 and beyond
 
PapaC

PapaC

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Total posts
2,798
Chips
0
I'm like TeUnit, that is a tough question. I really don't know how I would play 88, in what position, unless I'm in that situation, which happens many times during a day of play. So there are many ways to play small and middle pairs, or any hand for that matter. I keep changing up if I'm in a MTT and at the same table for awhile. In cash games I have to change up or I'm not winning very much, because I play with a lot of regulars at FF. I hope that makes sense. GL to you.
 
J

johnnygadget

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 28, 2015
Total posts
66
Chips
0
If you've got respect from the table then you can play mid pair a bit aggressively, but if you're new to a table or if you obviously bluff a lot you're going to have a hard time convincing others that you've got them beat, so you'll have to play big to get as many as possible to fold to increase your chances, but if someone has top pair with a decent kicker they're sure to call.
 
Last edited:
xpvictor1

xpvictor1

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Total posts
532
Awards
5
Chips
2
I tend to be too passive

I think you need to show some strength pre-flop in order to put your opponents on notice .. then if you hit trips you need to show even more strength .. I tend to try to bait my opponents after I hit trips on the flop, then they come over the top and I fold if the flop has a card higher than my pair. When I grow a pair I will re-raise instead of folding.
 
D

diserg1

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Total posts
38
Chips
0
it is necessary to act strictly on the situation if large raise by one of your opponents, it is rational to drop out of the hand
 
N

nyolcas

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Total posts
160
Chips
0
The play with a middle pair depends on a lot of things. Depends on the behaviour of your opponents, on your position , on your playing style, etc. For example if I'm at the early stage of a tournament with 88 in hand and the flop is T62 rainbow I try to play passive to see the turn for free or cheap.
 
Roman Tsygankov

Roman Tsygankov

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 5, 2016
Total posts
229
Chips
0
Usually, on preflop I just bet to "kill limpers" and call if I had a small bet before me. Flop - contbet/fold(if no sets and I am underdog)
 
milka1605

milka1605

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 1, 2014
Total posts
2,183
Awards
2
Chips
104
If we talk about small pocket pair and assorted cards of type J 10, Q 8 and the like then check-fold. When you call the same suit in the big blind with a good stack. The flop by circumstances.
 
C

CashBerry

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 14, 2016
Total posts
28
Chips
0
Answer

I try to stick with leading out half pot size bets, that way you should get an answer of where you are at. or at least a general idea.
 
chikistq

chikistq

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 27, 2015
Total posts
34
Chips
0
cheсk/raiz or cheсk/fold depending on flop
 
MuriloMCS

MuriloMCS

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 22, 2016
Total posts
4
Chips
0
With TT+ on any position I raise 3BB + 1BB for each limp before me! If I'm on final position (high, cutt off or button) I play this same way but I have to consider 88+. But this is only my opinion.
 
DonDigiDon

DonDigiDon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 19, 2016
Total posts
104
Chips
0
if you often buries the average couple in the early stage, even before the flop, then go ahead and make a push to count later stage, if you have a minimum of 77 at the hands of a proven and approved by pokerstars :)
 
D

dejan85

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Total posts
712
Chips
0
depeands of position if I am earlie position I CALL usually in late I try to raise if is no to muchplayers in a hand....
 
N

nacmonkey

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 21, 2016
Total posts
33
Chips
0
middle pair

I think you should just limp in. You do not want to be too aggressive you have chances to get a straight or flush one way to a good flop
 
whanfox

whanfox

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Total posts
66
Chips
0
play cautiously, try to hit a set, if not hit and the flop is bad, do not insist on not
 
makisaa

makisaa

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Oct 6, 2015
Total posts
3,030
Awards
10
GR
Chips
203
Play depending how you feel each hand watching the previous hands
 
S

Sidetracked

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Total posts
1,294
Awards
2
Chips
0
There are players against whom middle pr is a hand to call down all the way to the river, and there are players against whom you should fold without a set.

Position will be a lot of help to get to the river with your middle pr, so think about that before calling a raise pf.
 
Top