Medium Pocket Pairs, Call The Raise?

04-11-2005, 12:03 AM

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nasty1303

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if your only in the pot against one other person your pair may be good more often then not. pros will not call w/ the low pair if someone else has already called the raise. the small pairs are worth seeing the flop for chance of a set or mis match flop that makes your low pair look even better.

04-11-2005, 01:13 AM

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CRAPSHOOT

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I do well with low and medium pocket pairs...I treat 22 the same as I do QQ, because there is not that much difference other than someone calling you with a higher pocket pair.

1st you must know your table...now depending on my opponents, my bank and where I am at in tournament...I might go all-in...looking for an uncontested hand or one opponent at most...if I get an unpaired caller...I will usually win....I don't look for, nor do I need a set.

Other times I look to bet just enough to get one caller at most...if I did not hit and the board looks strong...I will layout a pretty strong bet to feel my opponent out...many times I will take it down right then, with my pocket 22 and a board of AQQ or simular....now, depending on my opponents reaction, I might even try it one more time with even a stronger bet....but I am also ready to fold, flop or turn.

If there is a raise pre-flop before your turn...you really really have to know your opponents...if I know that they are unpaired....I will raise to all-in....again though my bank has to be healthy and bigger than my opponents bank.

It is rare...that I go all-in with a small pocket pair to find that my opponent has a larger pocket pair...if they do it is usually AA or KK...and like I say in that set up there is no difference between 22 or QQ.

But wether I go all-in or bet just enough to get one caller varies quite a bit...by instinct, feel of my opponents, my bank, what my table image is and where I am in the tournament. By the way this only applies to toutnament play!

I only know one thing abount pocket pairs...if your going to play against a full table..you just might as well throw them away and I don't care what they are! If you play them right with one opponent....you can win with the strength of the cards or well played bluffs.

Last edited by CRAPSHOOT; 04-11-2005 at 01:55 AM.

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04-11-2005, 05:37 AM

Post Number: 13 (Link This Post)

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Zaphor

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I think crapshoot is right on this point, but i also think that in the pro game especially in tournaments the play is very tight indeed. Usually pots have no more than 2 people in them, as most players will fold there hand if they come under a raise, this is why playing medium or even low pocket pairs are worth playing because unless your opponant has a higher pair your in good shape going into the flop.

Additionally in the pro game there are several differences to amateur poker. The Pros have knowledge of traps that there opponants can play on them, they know to consider calling a mega raise with AJ(unsuited). This is why amateurs seem to be winning some ofn the pro events recently because their play can be rather unpredictable to a pro, who spend their entire lives playing with other pros. What im trying to say is that when playing with experienced players in a tournaments if you make a strong raise pre-flop they are going to be thinking you have a good hand and this is why in most proffessional games you have very few people, often, who have interests in the pot.

Last edited by Zaphor; 04-11-2005 at 05:41 AM.

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