playing mid-low pocket pairs with 6 people left in SnG

J

jaded848

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Total posts
325
Chips
0
What are some good ways to play these in the middle/later stages of a SnG? What I do sometimes is fire out a preflop raise in early position or limp in in late position and hope to catch a set. The problem is, there are times when a couple overs fall, and then I don't know what to do.

For example, say I'm dealt 6 6 in EP and raise to 3-4x the BB. Get 2 callers, flop comes 3 7 9. With this kind of flop, should I bet out or check/fold or check/call? Obviously there are alot of factors to consider such as stack size, stack size of opponents, opponents play style...but in general I have trouble giving my opponents credit for having a 9 or a 7 unless they are playing them with an Ace. Usually I put them on overcards and think my hand may be the best. What do you all think?
 
greywind50

greywind50

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Total posts
137
Chips
0
Your right about the different factors but in your example bet out. Make your opp's prove to you they have the over's or connected with the flop.
Your pair could be best and your continuation bet could win it.
 
kidkvno1

kidkvno1

Sarah's Pet
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Total posts
16,281
Awards
4
Chips
50
If there in the hand, with you i would think they have an A10 or better..
If it were me i would fire off a bet, and see if they still call, or raise me. If they fold muck the hand, if they call check the hand.
 
B

bertschejv

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Total posts
65
Chips
0
Yeah I agree, I would have to put them on something like A10, so in your example, I would definitely lead out with a bet. I think more times than not, you will win the hand that way. Of course, this won't always work, and it all depends on the situation
 
dresturn2

dresturn2

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 29, 2007
Total posts
765
Chips
0
you have to bet right here...chances are that they called u with big cards so this is your money flop...if u get reraised u can easily dump the hand...however ur feeler bet has to be sufficient....dont bet the minimum as a feeler bet it screams weakness.....maybe bet the minimum to enduce a raise...but not as a feeler
 
natsgrampy

natsgrampy

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Total posts
4,475
Awards
2
US
Chips
104
I too would assume they called with big cards. I would bet 3x the minimum and hope for a fold, if I get called or raised I can still dump the hand. More than likely it will induce a fold
 
J

JulieK

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 28, 2009
Total posts
118
Chips
0
This is why some people just go all-in preflop with a pair in that situation. You might win the hand right there, and you avoid the tricky decisions that come after the flop. For example, 22. If you are going to play it at all, you might as well go all-in preflop.
 
Poker Orifice

Poker Orifice

Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Total posts
25,596
Awards
6
CA
Chips
968
As usuall... it depends, lol. It depends upon stack sizes, table image, and who your opponents are.... who's on the blinds.. are they huge blind defenders or what, etc. etc.

If blinds are high, I'd suggest keeping your opening raises to 2.5x and I would never limp in late position. In early position I'm raising or folding (quite often folding 77 or lower.. if you get action you could get yourself in a tough spot). In LP I'm always raising if first in.

Other things to consider are 'stack sizes'...ie if blinds are fairly high you have to consider what the effective stack sizes are and then consider your size of raise accordingly (ie. you don't want to be raising 3x and then be folding to an 8x BB SS shove back on you... so keep this in mind). If blinds are high, you have to think ahead in the hand... are you opening with intentions of calling off if a shorterstack in blinds fires back on you?

It's hard to outline an answer here for ya... there's usually alot of things to consider. It's almost never black & white.
 
Poker Orifice

Poker Orifice

Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Total posts
25,596
Awards
6
CA
Chips
968
I too would assume they called with big cards. I would bet 3x the minimum and hope for a fold, if I get called or raised I can still dump the hand. More than likely it will induce a fold

6 left... sometimes this may mean the blinds are already quite high... some tables you'll be just getting into mid-levels (another reason why it's hard to say what I'd do).

More often than not... if you're playing decent players and the blinds are getting up there you will much more likely be getting reraised or shoved back on as opposed to someone just 'calling'. Always think ahead in these spots so that you'll have a good idea of where you'll be going with it.
 
Poker Orifice

Poker Orifice

Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Total posts
25,596
Awards
6
CA
Chips
968
An example of why it's far better to raise in LP than to limp and hope to hit a set.
Let's say you're holding 8-8 in the HJ or CO,... you raise up 2.5x and a player on the Btn or in the blinds calls you. In this spot I am firing a c-bet pretty much 100% of the time on any K or A that comes on the flop in an effort to represent it... this way I'm hopefully folding out hands like 9-9 & TT (especially if it's K-low-low, or A-low-low).
Flop texture is super important in these spots. You have to consider what types of flops are good for c-betting and which one's aren't.
 
Top