Overplaying pocket pairs?

coolnout

coolnout

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I have a tendency to overplay pocket pairs and it gets me in trouble. Do I just have to get disciplined in letting them go when there's an overcard on the board or try and keep the pot small? I'm dealt JJ's in the small blind. I raise 3xBB and I get 2 callers. I'm guessing I should have raised 4-5 times, because I get called by someone with Q9. The blinds were 400 and 800 with 100 antes. Board is, [Qh 8s 6h] one guy makes a continuation bet about of 3200. I call turn comes 9h. The guy on my right pushes all in, and I read it as a semi-bluff flush draw and call and what follows is my biggest suckout yet. He had two pair Q's and 9's, I hit a 10d on the river for a straight.
 
ImolAyrton

ImolAyrton

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If you were shortstacked, you should have moved all in..

If you raised on the SB and 2 guys called, that means there were some limpers before you.. Notice that for every limper make a rais 1 BB more..

Qh8s6h9h

On this board you have to fold.. You really cant beat anything anymore here.. If you put him on a draw on the flop, that 9 completed almost every draw he could have..

let's say he has AhJh, than he still had high card.. but he was the favorite for the river.. 3 Aces to hit.. any heart.. 4 Tens..
 
greywind50

greywind50

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Another idea if your comfortable with it is just to complete the small blind and see what the flop brings. If the flop is lower cards you can now try to reduce the field.
 
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crow27

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I think there are 2 ways you could have gone preflop.

If you're short stacked, or if I'm way under the ave. stack, but maybe not "short stacked" I'll just push all in. (like in a big trny when I have like 10 -15 BB)

Or when I'm at a loose table, it's alot easier to just complete the bet and see what the flop brings.

Also, I put JJ in a group of pp with 88 99 and 1010. It's a 2nd tier. Not bad, but not near as good as QQ, KK and AA. Helps me to not over reach.
 
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AtiFCOD

AtiFCOD

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JJs and QQs are the most dangerous cards in hand, they can be defeated easily by A or K, but if they dont show up, they can be very strong too
Throwing or keeping them depends on many things like the number of opponents, the high cars on table, the amount of chips...

I think low pairs are good, but if there is no set by the flop, just fold them.
 
kidkvno1

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hehehe, now thats not over playing them IMO... Get your chips in before the flop. Over playing PP would be calling all-ins, with 2s :)....
Get in before the flop, i have missed out on hands, by betting to low..
And so now i am shoving with PP :D.
 
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JBellah

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My question is this:

If you have a small pp (2-7) from late position. 2 people limp in ahead of you. Do you raise the pot or limp in as well to see if you hit the set?

I understand how it could go either way. On one hand, you represent a hand much stronger than what you have. That way if the board comes out small, and you still don't hit your set you can make a c-bet.

On the other, most hands won't play out that way and you'll be forced to fold costing yourself more chips/money than you would if you had limped in.

Does it depend on the table image? Is there a general rule of thumb for this situation?
 
RichKo

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I'm guessing I should have raised 4-5 times, because I get called by someone with Q9.

I love watching for people who base their raise on their cards...first off, thats totally blaaaagh!!!. You should'nt get pissed when someone calls your raise with crap...how do you expect to make money. Get your raise in and fold if you're beat and crush when you hit. If you're playing Jacks, and Q73 comes and you get bet into, use all the info available to whether to proceed or not. If you think you're beat then fold to play another hand. but when Q9 calls you and the board come Q3J then you milk you're opponent for all his chips, then laugh at the doof who couldn't lay down hit tpcrapk. Yeah you got lucky and sucked out, but do you want to be good at your game or just occasionally lucky.
 
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perry

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Small pairs, 22-66, I will call from any position hoping for a set. Anyone raises - I'm gone; 77 - 99 I'll call any reasonable raise, again hoping for a set. If I'm on a short stack it is touch and go whether to push all-in. Being on a late position helps me decide to do it. I prefer not to pass up any chance to flop a set or even quads. It is worth the gamble I think.
 
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Machidon7

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overplay pocket pairs...thats new...i play any pocket pair i am dealing...small pairs as 22-66 as cheap as possible ...77-99 max 2,3BB ....1010 JJ QQ ....raise 2,3 BB or limp (to have the element of surprise on your side :D if u get a set)...KK AA raise from any position 3,4BB
Do I just have to get disciplined in letting them go when there's an overcard on the board or try and keep the pot small?.....u need to learn when to let them go (on a board like Q rag ....K rag....and A rag and if they raise u..or u raise and they reraise u ..u probabilly should fold your JJs :smile:)
 
Razor_King

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Low Pocket Pairs = Cheap as possible (Daniel Negreanu said that lol)

-- Just get into at little call and see if you hit a set. Keep disciplined and never think because they look good they will be good! lol
 
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