dominiq
Rock Star
Silver Level
Hello Dominiq,
It is true. But in my short practice I saw when such a maniac made a really huge stack with pure luck. We started at 1.5 at the very beginning of a tournament, and at the bubble his stack raised up to 100K, while mine was around 10K with tight-aggressive strategyWhe we were at the same table, he got luck for 5 times subsequently.
What to think about all poker books in that case?
Pardon me for my mistakes, I am from Ukraine.
It isn't something strange. Poker is a game of luck also. So sometimes guy like him can build a big stack. So what? Maybe sometimes he hit some prize, but not very often.
Just play your game and don't worry about those guys and you will be much more profitable.
vov4ik
Legend
Silver Level
I play small pairs very carefully, I try to get into the flop with a small pair without raising the bet because the set rarely drops out, and if the players start to raise and reraise I throw off a small pair so as not to lose a lot of chips or dollars on it if the game is for money , Play neatly with a small pair pre-flop
M
MstrBlast3r
Rock Star
Silver Level
I prefer to open with small pairs in later position than to call with them. What pairs I will open with varies by position and if anyone as limped or put in a raise. I have a lot more trouble with facing a raise with small pairs to be honest. Your post flop play is very important with these hands and I think that is what really separates bad, good , and great players.
D
Dmutruu89
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I think that pre-flop you need to make a raise that would have less players.pair even if it is small and still a couple.the enemy can do nothing to be.there is also a chance to catch Seth.if you play aggressive pre-flop the small couple better pass
A
Augustus Ceasar
Rising Star
Bronze Level
Ok. Maybe you're right. Let's calculate some math here. If you have a small poket pair (55 and less), then you have 8% of set after flop approximately. If you raise or re-raise pre-flop you can make most players to fold. However, in case of call or re-raise you're in big danger and all you can expect is making your stack smaller in approximately 85% of cases. You still have 9 better pairs to to appear as hole cards of your oponents as well as high non-paired cards like AK-6, KQ-6, QJ-6 suited or not with much better outs, and as a result better chances to win against you.
Taking this into consideration the best option here is to limp and try to see flop as cheap as it possible. If you have a set, than it is a big probability of winning the hand, if not you're underdog and have to fold with first bet in case if flop shows cards higher than yours (i.e. A64, KJ7, etc). Even if you catch a set, there is still flush and streight danger. So in my opinion players should be extremely cautious when play small poket pairs.
A
Augustus Ceasar
Rising Star
Bronze Level
And how often do you win the hand?
J
j4fun
Rising Star
Bronze Level
First thing to say is that I am a new player to the game but I think i have a grip on a few things.. With small PPs I don't like the idea of limping.. I always like to tell the table that I have something.. The general 2 to 2.5 bb raise seems good for me..Then when someone raises me preflop I have a margin to call and see the flop. But it also depends on the players around me.How does everyone play small pocket pairs? To provide context I play live 1/2NL.
I like to limp with small pocket pairs looking to set mine. I don't like the idea of raising because it's rare to hit a set and if I do raise I don't want to see a re-raise making it pricier to see a flop.
Now having said this, I'm noticing that the strong/profitable players raise with small pocket pairs when there is no raise in front of them. Can anyone provide any insight? I'm assuming it's to balance out their range but even so I would think limping with small pocket pairs is better in the long run. But clearly I'm missing something here...
Gamebreakr25
Rock Star
Silver Level
Hello. I like to limp with them. Sometimes I will put in a small raise (maybe 3BB's or so) if I have position and/or I playing at a tight table. Take careHow does everyone play small pocket pairs? To provide context I play live 1/2NL.
I like to limp with small pocket pairs looking to set mine. I don't like the idea of raising because it's rare to hit a set and if I do raise I don't want to see a re-raise making it pricier to see a flop.
Now having said this, I'm noticing that the strong/profitable players raise with small pocket pairs when there is no raise in front of them. Can anyone provide any insight? I'm assuming it's to balance out their range but even so I would think limping with small pocket pairs is better in the long run. But clearly I'm missing something here...