How to play with small pairs in Pre-flop?

tagece

tagece

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I’m really in doubt about playing hands 77-22 in pre-flop. When reading about it in foruns, I found people saying "go all in" as much as I see others advising a fold. What do you think about it?
 
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lukeellul92

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Open raise to 3-5BB, or call a raise. Try and set mine. DOn;t fold them preflop to a raise.

If your raise gets 3bet, or if its 3bet before it gets to you, you need to really consider stack sizes etc, but 77 is the very very bottom of your calling range for a 3bet really. SO maybe just fold to a 3bet.
 
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Lexxx

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In utg and early positions, just limp and try to see the flop.
 
fubarcdn

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I agree with Lexx that is the best action in everything but a freeroll.
 
Al Spath

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If you are playing them early in an tournament by limping in, you will be raised, so if you raise with them (and get action), you still might be able to continuation bet and win if you do not hit.

Realize with lots of starting chips, players are going to call your raise and you will get crushed with them, so maybe in LP first in, might net you a profit, but UTG may turn out to be trouble for you.

Late in tournaments they are worthless, unless short stacked and pushing to make a stand. Players forget and over value small pairs late, but making a stand is different.

good luck
 
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lukeellul92

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If you are playing them early in an tournament by limping in, you will be raised, so if you raise with them (and get action), you still might be able to continuation bet and win if you do not hit.

Realize with lots of starting chips, players are going to call your raise and you will get crushed with them, so maybe in LP first in, might net you a profit, but UTG may turn out to be trouble for you.

Late in tournaments they are worthless, unless short stacked and pushing to make a stand. Players forget and over value small pairs late, but making a stand is different.

good luck

They are not worthless late in tournaments lol...
 
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ph_il

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They are not worthless late in tournaments lol...
i think what Al means in that late in tournaments when blinds are high compared to stacks, you'll rarely find situations where raising/calling a raise with a small pair will be profitable in the long run since you wont be getting the [implied] odds to set mine against effect stack sizes, unless you're in a big stack vs big stack situation.

Also, big pairs, and big hands like KQs, AJs+, have more value late in tournaments, so you could see a lot of raises, 3bets, shoves from small-mid stacks with these types of hands which could put you in weird situations preflop with small pairs; especially if you have a medium 30-40BB stack.

I wouldn't say they're worthless late in tournaments but they're definitely hands you should play in late position and against no other preflop raisers. In early and mid position, limping in is pretty bad and raising could get you into some sticky situations preflop if facing a big 3bet/shove from a short-mid stack. Again, you aren't getting the implied odds and you're only hitting a set 1 out 7.5 times. You opponent doesn't necessarily have a bigger pair there, but it's likely you're in a race situation. So, it's best to avoid these types of situation, if you're not on a push/fold stack, in early position by just folding these types of hand.
 
4soul

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Short = push , average= depends of situation, deep = raise min.
 
starting_at_the_bottom

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Cash or tourney?
 
ribaric

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I’m really in doubt about playing hands 77-22 in pre-flop. When reading about it in foruns, I found people saying "go all in" as much as I see others advising a fold. What do you think about it?
Raise to 2 or 3 bb. Apply in pokerstars school and you will see :)
 
Saperion

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If u have less than 10 BB, its all in preflop.

In early Mtt, with avegare stack. I just limp hoping to connect a set.

I have a big stack i play em very agressive pre flop.
 
tagece

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Raise to 2 or 3 bb. Apply in pokerstars school and you will see :)

In the pokerstars school table of starting hands they advise a raise only if everyone folds and you are in a final position. Reading the coments above, I think is the most indicated.

If you are in a early position and raises, there is a chance to get a 3bet, and face a difficult decision. In freerolls, it’s almost a rule. I don’t know if I’m right about that, but in those situations, I don’t think that calling is ok. It can be very expensive just to see the flop. Or you fold, or keep being agreesive and 4bet or shove.
 
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tagece

tagece

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Great tips for the people above. Thank you! :)
 
onondaga

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What do I think about it? Yes, i think about it :D /
If u asking how to play some hands, more information needed!

1) tournament / cash
2) BB level (if tournament) and your bank
3) position (number of players in pot)

i trying to see flop, if there are no agressive players - turn, river/ but if get set make raise move =)
 
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11012015

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You can call each time. When lifting rates can always make a fold.
 
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6bet me

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My general approach when I have over 50bb and am dealt a low pocket pair is:
1) Raise to 3bb preflop, fold if anyone re-raises you.
2) If you flop a set, bet 70% pot on the flop, turn and river for value.
3) If you miss the set and it's a multi-way pot, just check/fold the flop.
4) If you miss the set and you only got 1 caller, then C-bet the flop and check/fold the turn and river.

Sometimes I deviate from this strategy, depending on:
1) How wet/dry the board is.
2) How loose the villains are preflop (whether the flop hits their range).
3) How likely the villains are to call my C-bets.
4) Whether I can get more value from betting a larger amount when I hit my set (always nice to stack the fishier opponents and calling stations).
 
razva_raz94

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I fold on early position and raise in late position. If someone raised or limped before me i would only call.
 
paulinhlt

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depending on your position and the information you have on your opponent, it is worth you to call, and not pay all or in 3bet4bet
 
AAnonimowi

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When you're playing against Freeroll players, mostly always bad players, don't push too much with low pairs. You can be easily called. They aren't good enough, and sometimes opponent can get single 9 that won't be folded.
At very beginning of MTT try to limp those low pairs. At S&G try to put some pressure earlier. And play wisely after flopping a set. It could be tricky ;)
 
arborest

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Usually try to call a raise or raise 3BB... Then wait for a flop and hope to collect a set. Otherwise its useless.
 
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Akwind

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MTT - i prefer to raise UTG 77+ (fold 22 33 44 55 66)
i always raise them for set mining and never call reraise bigger then 20% of my stack
that's the rule
 
gamblorised

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I know how I play them depends on how deep into the tourney we are (I don't play cash games), my stack size compared to bb, even how close the bubble is, if I'm already in the money then how closed the final table is, also how loose/tight the table is playing, also position of course :)
But I just realised your question is posted under "Learning Poker". Since I'm a crap poker player, I'm the last person that should be sharing strategy in this section!

;)
 
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