How u play small pairs at late stage of a tournament??

demibar

demibar

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Aug 4, 2015
Total posts
2,318
Awards
10
GR
Chips
102
the small pairs is always be an issue in the final stage of the tournament what you do if you have a middle stack or small stack how you play them and what if someone shove do you call with small pairs ??
 
DougPkrMonsta

DougPkrMonsta

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Total posts
914
Awards
15
Chips
0
the small pairs is always be an issue in the final stage of the tournament what you do if you have a middle stack or small stack how you play them and what if someone shove do you call with small pairs ??

As the blinds go up and the stacks shrink dealing with small pairs can become tricky for sure!

To me the best way to deal with them is as follows:

You have to be willing to fold them if others show interest and you aren't deep enough to set mine. That being said, first in the pot you can profitably open-shove these hands with up to 20 big blinds (high variance). If you are up against a loose player with 20 bbs or less these can be great hands to re-steal with to build back up your stack.

With a medium stack you can make your standard raise and play carefully post-flop with flops of more than 1 over card or on super connected flops.

It also depends a lot on how your table is playing - if no one folds, raising or going all-in with deuces is inadvisable unless you have enough chips to get paid off when you hit a set.

Hope this helps - good luck! :)
 
Last edited:
JAQK_T

JAQK_T

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Total posts
30
Chips
0
Depending on position. Depending on my perceived image. And definitely how deep we are.
 
Nikolay23

Nikolay23

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 20, 2016
Total posts
129
Chips
0
I just check and hope to get set,or if i have small stack i go all in with any pair
 
C

coachlary69

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 12, 2013
Total posts
196
Chips
0
In the later stages of a tournament if I have small pairs (22, 33, 44, 55, 66, and 77) I am going to fold them unless I'm deep stacked and in late position. That's just my standard default line when dealt one of these hands, although there are times when I may play one of these hands from middle position if it's folded around to me and I've had a chance to watch the buttons play and I think they will check pre-flop then I will call. If min-raised after I call I will look at the pot odds and take a small stab at it provided of course that I have enough chips that I'm not risking more than 10 percent of my stack.
 
C

chronical

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 15, 2014
Total posts
1,128
Awards
1
Chips
1
depends on possition,stack,stage of the tournament... but MY rule of a thumb is 3-4bb raise hoping to see a set on the flop.
Then depends on the bord, amount of ops, how ops played... but ussualy if you didn't hit either set or a strong dro thuos 66 can cost you hald of steck or more so it's an easy fold
 
Last edited:
okthishard

okthishard

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Total posts
35
Chips
0
22-66 i'm folding unless i have a big stack or you have pot odds to call
 
K

kevinmarkus

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Total posts
48
Chips
0
As the blinds go up and the stacks shrink dealing with small pairs can become tricky for sure!

To me the best way to deal with them is as follows:

You have to be willing to fold them if others show interest and you aren't deep enough to set mine. That being said, first in the pot you can profitably open-shove these hands with up to 20 big blinds (high variance). If you are up against a loose player with 20 bbs or less these can be great hands to re-steal with to build back up your stack.

With a medium stack you can make your standard raise and play carefully post-flop with flops of more than 1 over card or on super connected flops.

It also depends a lot on how your table is playing - if no one folds, raising or going all-in with deuces is inadvisable unless you have enough chips to get paid off when you hit a set.

Hope this helps - good luck! :)

Great post! I really needed some input on how to play things like pocket 5s and 6s. I know it's unlikely for someone to catch a pair on the flop heads up, but I'm always scared when there's more than one over on the table and they cbet. I normally just fold quick when that happens... I'll be a lot more considerate of how deep my and my opponents' stacks are before I consider calling too large of bets.
 
AgentXtreme

AgentXtreme

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 27, 2016
Total posts
1,258
Awards
2
Chips
0
Depends on my position , early position is a fold (depends also on the situation table against some loosers , try to play them) , late position play them easily
 
M

MakeUcryalot

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Total posts
107
Chips
0
Depends. First you should never open up your range until you're shorter stacked than 12 BBs. So if you wouldn't push a pair of twos UTG regularly you still wouldn't. Shove 55+ UTG and 22+ hj-sb with more than 8 bbs and less than 12. Less than 8 BBs you should shove (all in) any pocket pair from any position though be selective and read the table and the effective stacks to help make your decision.
 
Y

Yura Nabok

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 22, 2016
Total posts
80
Chips
0
..

a pairs of small play in different ways, dependent on the position and size of bets on the table
 
Ahoy

Ahoy

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Total posts
1,147
Awards
1
Chips
3
Its based on my position at a table. For me positioning is the Alpha and the Omega of all my games, hands and choices
 
Gh0stL

Gh0stL

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Total posts
705
Awards
3
PE
Chips
298
If depend tha players and the table is passive I pay, it's posible obtain the set and obtain win more cheaps.
 
S

spitzy

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
Total posts
15
Chips
0
Depends on what situation im in, if im closing in on just a few BB's left i'll definitely call, but it's a tricky situation and it's very hard to say.
 
Jim Brown

Jim Brown

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Total posts
128
Chips
0
depends on stack sizes. Watch opponents stack sizes to judge if you have any fold equity. If you're short you're going to have to shove or fold. Usually avoid calling especially if it could go more than HU.
 
J

joe777

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 3, 2014
Total posts
2,694
Chips
0
Reshove against constant raiser with a large stack if you are on the bb.
 
T

TicketMan4u

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Total posts
29
Chips
0
I fold in early position because usually many late position players shove if no one else has and everyone else is just limping. Mid to late position I usually just limp or 2xbb if no one else is raising hoping for a set on the flop. Then is I miss the flop and someone bets I usually just go ahead and toss them hoping for something better next time.
 
lcid86

lcid86

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Total posts
3,191
Awards
9
US
Chips
418
depends on position and chip stack. Much more aggressively if I have either. Otherwise, let them go...
 
D

dejan85

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Total posts
712
Chips
0
very good i think small raise if I hit a set than I COULD WIN A LOT.....
 
K

kmart99

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Total posts
85
Chips
0
As the blinds go up and the stacks shrink dealing with small pairs can become tricky for sure!

To me the best way to deal with them is as follows:

You have to be willing to fold them if others show interest and you aren't deep enough to set mine. That being said, first in the pot you can profitably open-shove these hands with up to 20 big blinds (high variance). If you are up against a loose player with 20 bbs or less these can be great hands to re-steal with to build back up your stack.

With a medium stack you can make your standard raise and play carefully post-flop with flops of more than 1 over card or on super connected flops.

It also depends a lot on how your table is playing - if no one folds, raising or going all-in with deuces is inadvisable unless you have enough chips to get paid off when you hit a set.

Hope this helps - good luck! :)


Great post very good advice. If your stack is well below 20 big blinds than the biggest factor for me is my fold equity.

Stack Under 15 BB

If there's a 30% chance of stealing it preflop, a 50% chance of beating two overs, and a 20% chance of beating an over pair.... That's more than enough equity to open shove 22.

Because of how poorly 22-66 play post flop I'd advise strongly against limping or opening at any number other than all in if you aren't deep enough to set mine.

I'd also just fold 22-66 if there's too much action before I have even acted.

Stack over 20BB
Set mine.


Stack between 15-20BB... Not sure, super awkward
 
romych007

romych007

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Total posts
743
Awards
1
Chips
3
With an average stack, I'll call with pairs of 99- to get a set. From the late position, I can go all-in with a short stack with pairs 55+ if no raises.
 
BogdanStark

BogdanStark

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
May 3, 2015
Total posts
514
Chips
0
Not often and only when I am big stack.
 
BogdanStark

BogdanStark

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
May 3, 2015
Total posts
514
Chips
0
With an average stack, I'll call with pairs of 99- to get a set. From the late position, I can go all-in with a short stack with pairs 55+ if no raises.

It is true)) that's like he play 100$ CC freerolls))
Great hi c0ssack_ua)
 
R

redmast

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Total posts
1,987
Awards
2
Chips
126
I've been playing with them since the game up to that point. Only if someone will make a large raise the fold.
 
antonis32123

antonis32123

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Total posts
6,362
Awards
20
GR
Chips
249
If I have a middle stack I play them to see if they form a set or better if lucky, if not I fold them .
If short stacked , I shove them against one loose player or , when I cannot choose , against only one from position trying to steal the blinds ( of course if sb shows he likes his hand with raises reraises I fold with the exception when I have two, three blinds , then I shove and may god help me with tripls hehe )
 
Top