How to Play Pocket Pairs

Alex Kim27

Alex Kim27

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Pocket pair is victory or defeat? how often you have to make a choice to call a big raise or fold when you have a pocket pair: AA, KK, QQ. I have a pocket pair I lose very often. but I can not fold when I have a pocket pair. and I regret losing a big pot very often. but what do you do when you have a pocket pair? what interesting stories did you have?
 
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effece

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I used to raise or a 3cbet by raising the pot with a pair in hand, it ended up compromising my stack and losing inevitably against some ladder, color or double pair, so I desidi either go all in preflop or limp until I see the flop development for the slowplay but always subject to probabilities
 
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1noname1

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Before the flop, I play very aggressively, and then on the situation.
 
Andrei Korolev

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I like when I'm on the BB with pocket cards premium...
 
vitalii029

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it all depends on the position and what is your stack and how many people at the table is
 
milka1605

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I have a pocket pair of AA memories are very interesting. I was given a pocket pair of AA three times in a row. The probability of which is very small. All three times I showed rivals. They were surprised of course.
 
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C3H6S

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if anybody raise ...i raise with 66+ under 66 just call ...pocket grand pairs raise every time
 
Drhat63

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This is definitely one of the toughest decisions in the game... I have found that knowing when you are looking for a set, versus knowing you are good, pre-flop or after, really dictates your action moving forward.
 
Spielkind

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Keep your mind on the Position ever and watch online or live of tells and betsizes and push Pockets AA KK QQ ever! All other play with the right bets :) GL All
 
paulinhlt

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i use 3 bet - shove, it depends on the spot and the chips.
 
makisaa

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Pocket pair AA, KK, QQ are just a pair, nothing more. So a very simple other combination like two pairs, wins. So in the case of pocket pairs you study the statistics of the game you play and your general statistics. What kind of hands big pairs like these show you? How many wins? How often? Study the maths of the game and act.
 
MattRyder

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I was playing recently with a guy who had a string of five pocket KK, perhaps over a dozen hands. He lost with two or three of them. I love getting the big pairs, and I always play them aggressively, but I lose with a lot of them. I'm beginning to see why so many guys are limping with them. On the one hand limping is a very risky play. On the other hand, if you're going to jam and get called by three others anyway, your odds have gone way down even with AA.
 
mvrkaus

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Big pokets put you in a huge lead pre, but that's it. They increase your chance of winning the hand, but not guarantee it. As long as you keep that in mind, folding pocket Kings or Aces won't be as harsh, but you'll definitely still feel salty.
 
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colbear

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too many unknowns

How you play depends on so many things . Stack size , advancement of money prize , position , how many in pot , knowledge of other players . stage ot tournament . type of tournament .

Generally speaking be aggressive if early or more than 1 other already in pot just shove you don't want too many callers . If late pos you may call or small raise trying to induce 3 bet from aggressive players . If SS push of coarse . other than that see above
 
Diegol

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when you have pocket pairs and your opponent does not your chances are if he had 2 over of yours 50 / 50 (6 outs in 5 cards) but if he have just one over his chances are much lower
 
MattRyder

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Big pokets put you in a huge lead pre, but that's it. They increase your chance of winning the hand, but not guarantee it. As long as you keep that in mind, folding pocket Kings or Aces won't be as harsh, but you'll definitely still feel salty.
Very smart words!
 
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Dmutruu89

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a overrated older pocket pairs. there is that with AA you can easily lose. need to know when to reset even top pair. that's what professional players differ from novices. you need to look at the behavior of your opponents and that is on the table
 
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mauricioleit

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AA and KK are very good only for allin preflop, ideal for playing postflop headsup, knowing well the range of the opponent, to position themselves accordingly. Balancing profit between several hands helps you to play AA posflop well.
 
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Some useful pot odds (note - these are a rough guide only):

AA vs KK = 80% vs 20%

KK vs A 10s = 66% vs 33%

KK vs A 10o = 70% vs 30%

AA vs KQs = 82% vs 18%

AA vs KQo = 87% vs 13%

AA vs 6 7s = 77% vs 23%

As you can see you actually have better odds against AA with a mid connected pair of suited cards than two unconnected high cards such as KQ.

In all these cases AA will lose at least 1 in 5 times, so long as you always get your money in good you'll be a winning player long term.
 
stefan94

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I am playing 3 BB raise before floop .. but if it is less than 77 , i am just calling ..
 
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Fastone2

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I love pocket pairs. I usually figure to make it one on one, if possible...
 
Spielkind

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Position, Player and Stacksize playing--carefull early pushing from button to bb
 
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fac8

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If, I Have pocket, always checking the pot first! If, the bets before that are for my pocket ofc...
After that, if there is triple, cheking always what my opponents can have...

But here, the luck can make your life miserable...
There is so many scenarios for these pairs! You never know what the pot will show...:confused:
 
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If I have pocket pairs I always try to play for the curiosity but I do not let my curiosity get too out of hand if the pot is raised too high and it seems it is not worth it or too many players on the board I will cut my losses.
 
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