Poker: Playing Small Pocket Pairs

Small pocket pairs (22-77) are usually played for one reason:hitting a set on the flop. In No-Limit Hold'em, it makes senseto play any pocket pair from any position if you're playing atthe right sort of table. In Limit Hold 'em, you usually want toreserve these hands for middle and late position, but they canstill become a very powerful hand. Let's review the best ways toplay small pocket pairs both before and after the flop.

Beginning with Limit Hold 'em, you should always consider thecurrent pot odds before making a decision about a marginal handlike a small pocket pair. In reality, the odds are 7 to 1against you making trips on the flop. So, in order to play theodds, you'll need to have 6 others in the pot with you.

With a hand like 2-2 or 3-3, you don't really have many otherouts, so just consider them a drawing hand. With a pair ofdeuces, every flop you see will contain an overcard, so if yourhand doesn't improve it rarely will survive a showdown,especially with more than one opponent. Larger pairs like 6-6 or7-7 have a greater chance of standing up to 3 rags on the flop.If you don't have 7 players seeing the flop with your smallpocket pair, you can still play it, but it will be unprofitablein the long run to go against the odds.

On the other hand, with No-Limit Hold 'em, you might considerplaying every pocket pair you're dealt if you can do it cheaply.It can make sense to play pocket deuces from early position if:

1. Your table is full of passive opponents who rarely raisepreflop 2. At least half of your table usually calls to see theflop 3. You can release the hand if it doesn't hit on the flop

With No-Limit, you can think more in terms of implied odds (howmuch you expect to make from your opponents if you hit yourhand). Since there are no limits on betting, you can double yourstack if you hit your set and play it right. That is definitelygreat odds for calling the inexpensive big blind Even better,you can sometimes get more than one opponent in on the hand witha draw or other medium-strong hands like two pair.

Think about it: lots of people like to slowplay a big pocketpair like A-A. You couldn't be up against a better situationwhen you limp in with your pocket deuces. When your opponentsees a flop of 10-2-5, he's going to think that his Rockets aregood. Wouldn't you? This is a great spot to come out better oreven just check. Pocket Aces are going to bet or raise you,allowing you to come over the top of him. Just dodge another Aceon the turn and river and you've just made a great investment bylimping in with your baby pocket pair.

You also have to have discipline to play any pocket pair. YouHAVE to be able to release this hand when it doesn't connect onthe flop. You're going to miss much more often than you hit, sohave you need to have the strength to much your hand when itmisses. Otherwise, you're just drawing very thin and throwingmore money away.

Also, be prepared for when your pocket pair does connect on theflop. If you watch much poker on TV, you might think that it'san automatic check as soon as you make your hand on the flop.This is not true, especially in the wild online poker games.There are just too many bad players out there who will see theflop with any two cards. Don't give them the opportunity.Analyze the flop properly before you decide to slowplay. If youplayed those pocket deuces and see a flop of 2-K-J with twohearts, you should definitely bet out. Why? There are too manydraws out there and you don't want to give a free card. One morecard could complete a straight, a flush, a full house, or ahigher set than yours. There is nothing worse than hitting a setonly to get drawn out on by J-7 suited. This is even moreimportant when you have many opponents in the pot with you.

You need to know how much to bet when you hit your set on theflop. If you're first to act and there are 4 or 5 opponentsbehind you, you should usually bet out. A pot-sized bet is goodchoice in this situation. It might drive your opponents out, butyou can't risk giving a free card in this situation. The textureof the flop is also important in knowing how much to bet. If yousee two connected or suited cards of the board, you should betmore to make your opponents go against the odds to draw. Ifyou're playing Limit, you should almost always bet out againstmultiple opponents. You should consider slowplaying only with arainbow unconnected board.

It can be profitable to play small pocket pairs from anyposition if you do it in the right situation and play it strong.Rarely slowplay if a draw is possible, and just hope that youropponent is holding pocket Aces or Kings. You'll get all theaction you want and you'll love it!