Small pocket pairs

Josue

Josue

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When holding a small pocket pair, there is a very high chance that the flop will bring over cards. This will then give us an underpair to the board, and it is going to be very difficult to try and find out whether or not we are ahead.

If we make a bet and get called, this gives us little information in whether or not our hand is ahead. Our opponent may have a higher pair, a drawing hand, a lower pair or any other possible hand. The simple bet and call does not tell us a lot about what our opponent is holding, and it will prove to be costly to try and find out if we are ahead by betting on the turn and river.
 
6

6bet me

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That's why we do what's called "set mining". We try to flop a set (trips). If we fail to flop that, then we have the option of either Cbetting the flop and then giving up if called, or just giving up immediately on the flop, depending on the board texture, the opponent type and what we think our fold equity is on that flop.
 
proud2Bwhack

proud2Bwhack

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keep in mind that the weaker the competition, the more you will be in the dark with the calls (bad players call with anything) but set mining can work wonders when they flop top pair top kicker! Also, when you are in position it makes more sense to carry on in the hand as you may have a chance to steal the pot later if the OOP player gives up, or you hit your two outer and get sets on turn or river!!
 
garouy85

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with a small pocket cards, can gather jackpot, If you catch a monster on the table
 
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diserg1

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examine the range of hands opponents for a more informed decision. If you are sure that you have the best hand bet, if you are sure that the enemy will reset, - bet.
 
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Two6JJ

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Depending on the cost to see the turn it can give you a chance to make your set but beware of bleeding chips into 2 out dreams.
 
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KALUGAJ

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When it comes to flop a set ,with A or K, then it's great. You can build a large bankroll and win a lot of money
 
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bookoface

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You could try to put pressure preflop, that he hopefully only calls with a high card. if you get like flop 2 2 7 and you got 66. Ussually you got a better hand.
 
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Tosh_67

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Small pocket pairs are not too profitable for me... Maybe i have played them poorly and/or overvalued them... I think it is a hand that takes a long time to learn how to play well...
 
finaltable1

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"set mining" described above is the best option to play pocket pairs under 99. Personally i always fold ducks and 33 if there was raise in front of me.
 
edc1

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as stated set mining is the way to go with small pairs if the price is right to call,il only set mine if the bet or raise is 3 bb anything more than that im folding the pre-flop its a great hand to have when you hit the flop alot of players wont put you on a set if you play yer cards right-you got to be ab le to muck it post flop if it doesnt hit the flop chasing while holding a small pair can lead to disaster
 
sCATpoker

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There are obviously a hundred differnt ways to play a small pocket pair. As for me I am going to try and see a flop, but only if it is on the cheap anything over a standard raise around 3 big blind, I have absolutely no problem folding a small pocket pair if the pre flop betting gets to ambitious. My main goal is to see if I can flop a set if not pretty discardable hand with keeping the loss to a minimum expecially if you have multiple villians. If you have only one villian may call or make a c-bet to get a feel where they are at but definately not married to the hand easily foldable at anypoint along they way if no set is in hand.
 
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Beast modes

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I guess pressure preflop , smal bet to fold
 
MattRyder

MattRyder

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When it comes to flop a set ,with A or K, then it's great. You can build a large bankroll and win a lot of money

Yes, this is one of the better scenarios. Not too likely that AA or KK stayed in the hand pre-flop without upping the ante considerably. So, your set is probably golden.

The situation I don't like as much is when there are a couple of others in the pot and although I hit a set, the flop has two higher non-face cards, and one of your opponents is a little too aggressive. That's when you need to have a good read on your opponents. Too much aggression sometimes means that there's a better set out there. Remember, just about everybody set mines for 1-3 BBs.

There are times when I won't play a small pair at all, usually when I'm out of position and I can expect a lot of aggression after me. That said, there's no better feeling than hitting a small set on the flop against an opponent who decided to slow-play AA pre-flop and the flop comes up all low. Then, he decides to bet big big.
 
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