How should one play small to med PP in live tourneys

natsgrampy

natsgrampy

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Total posts
4,475
Awards
2
US
Chips
104
I recently played in 2 live tournaments with $400 buy ins each. In the first one, I had small to medium pocket pairs quite a few times. I would say, that, in 4 hours of play, I had PP at least 12 times of 9,9 or lower. I only won the pot once .

If the pot was not opened before my turn, I would bet 3x the blinds. It never failed that I would get at minimum 2 callers and twice had 4 callers.

In just about every flop, there would be over cards. I tried to C - bet and always would get at least one caller. This would indicate to me the caller caught a piece of the flop, and I was beat. I even tried to bet on the turn and then backed off on the river when I got called. There was only one hand I C - bet after the flop and everyone else folded.

Is this just one of those things in poker that will never change or is there something I should have done better to win more of these hands.

I tried limping once and ended up with a 7 handed flop and no idea where I stood after the flop. I didn't want to bet 4 or 5x the blinds and lose even more.

Should I just stay out of the hands with small to mid PP's.
Was I just outplayed? post flop.

Looking for some help for future games.

PS the one hand I played 7,7 and flopped a set, I was KO'd by the guy who flopped a set of Q's.
 
shinedown.45

shinedown.45

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 18, 2006
Total posts
5,389
Chips
0
Set mine unopened pots by limping small-med PP.
You will get multiple callers with the occasional raise and the way I would deal with the raise when holding a PP is something I learned when reading HoH.
He assigned a percent to his PP which he used when deciding whether or not he was going to call the raise based on the size of his stack.
22=2% - 99=9%
For instance, if you're holding 77 and you limp, you get a raise, your call would have to be no more than 7% of your stack including what you already had limped with.

I may be wrong as I have not read HoH in years but it is rule I use.
 
H

Haanski

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 5, 2016
Total posts
80
Chips
0
Def try to set mine with these hands usually
 
M

mountsun

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Total posts
38
Chips
0
small pairs (lower then 9-9) I only limp in when blinds /stakes are relatively low.

I try to hit a set. No set> out of the hand. Except when the flop is good for your low pair (e.g. you have 66 and the flop is 345).

but when you hit your set, always keep your eyes open for full-house, straight or flushes...
 
Organize a Home Poker Game
Top