Question on small pocket pairs

[ND1991]

Okay so I have been looking back through stats, watching my play more, and now finally have a question.... small pocket pairs..... what situations do you play them? raise them? call them? fold them?

I ask because I use to set mine quite a bit, but determined that was not a good play on my part. Now however, I may be on the opposite side and laying down pocket pairs too often. To be clear, on a 6-man table or Heads-up games, I am much more aggressive and willing to play PPs. However, on a 9-man or 10-man table I am looking for advice.

Currently, I would say my "general" play is as follows:

1) Call the BB with a pocket pair 22 - 99 out of position and try to see a flop. Call a single raiser with no other callers, but fold if two or more in pot.

2) Raise the BB with TT - JJ and try to get heads up with assumption it could be a coin toss if I was called. These hands I try to take down blinds and not go broke.

3) In position with one person in pot that raised, depends on table, but will call if I think can be heads-up, and fold if I think there will be others tagging along. Occasionally I will 3-bet this to get heads-up but lately have shied away from this play.

4) In position with no one in pot in front of me. I usually put a raise out hoping to either take down the blinds or get heads-up. Will often call a re-raise if I am last to act and it will be heads-up, but fold if more in.

Questions:
1) Any comments on above "general" play appreciated.
2) Should I group hands differently? Currently 22-99, TT-JJ, QQ, KK-AA.

Thanks again!

[Mullie]

1) Call the BB with a pocket pair 22 - 99 out of position and try to see a flop. Call a single raiser with no other callers, but fold if two or more in pot.

I would never give the BB a free flop, if you think that your hand is not good enough to raise, you should fold . I raise almost every hand I play, and limping is in my opinion the worst tactic there is, although, there are a couple of pro's who are successful limper's and in MTT's, when there are small stacks involved and you have a big pocket, I would include limping to your repertoire. In addittion, raising a small pair would also disguise the strenght of your hand which could be used to induce a trap

Call a raise or be the initial raiser would be my advice

2) Raise the BB with TT - JJ and try to get heads up with assumption it could be a coin toss if I was called. These hands I try to take down blinds and not go broke.

In position or when you hit your trips/set, raise.... so check raise (almost every time) or call/re-raise depending the situation.

3) In position with one person in pot that raised, depends on table, but will call if I think can be heads-up, and fold if I think there will be others tagging along. Occasionally I will 3-bet this to get heads-up but lately have shied away from this play.

See above

4) In position with no one in pot in front of me. I usually put a raise out hoping to either take down the blinds or get heads-up. Will often call a re-raise if I am last to act and it will be heads-up, but fold if more in.

Calling a re-raise is most of the time quite expensive. Ask your self with 88-JJ... would you re-raise with those hands..... or even call a re-raise..... what are the chances you hit trips, taking into account, that Doyle Brunson stated that you are going for trips when playing a medium/small pocket.

Questions:
1) Any comments on above "general" play appreciated.
2) Should I group hands differently? Currently 22-99, TT-JJ, QQ, KK-AA.

Thanks again!

Yes, play every pocket the same pre-flop and try to improve your post-flop game. Try to mix up your game!

[IwantUrdough]

^^^^ What my mate Mullie says! ^^^^

But, what are you playing? MTT/SNG or cashgames?

The scenarios of play are different between cash and MTT/SNG.

[ND1991]

Very good question and very true:

Heads-up -- I consider pocket pairs HUGE and will play them aggrssively espcially the higher ones. I do not mind mixing it up with these.

SNG single -- I play them more cautiously but it is a lot about position, stack sizes, and image.

MTT -- I am more cautious and will setmine at times against one or two people and laydown if I miss. Nice stack builder if you hit and if you can get in cheap definitely worth it in early stages.

SNG single or MTT near end -- as it gets to 6 people or less their value continues to increase and will play them more and more aggresively but willing to fold if re-raised at times.

[ND1991]

Re-visiting this one. In a $30 + $3 tournament with a $4000 guarantee. 119 players entered, 25 paid, and down to final 16. Sitting at 9th in chips with 25000 and blinds at 600/1200 with 120 ante.

I get dealt 66 UTG. With 1st and 2nd in chips at 99000 and70000 to my left.

Curious what would you do? I have played few hands, and when we have flipped, I have won every hand but one and that one I was 70% favorite when money went in 99 vs. A7o.

Thanks again for advice.

Payout structure
21 to 25 - $56
16 to 20 - $64
11 to 15 - $72
10 - $90
9 - $110
8 - $130
7 - $150
6 - $180
5 - $240
4 - $300
3 - $400
2 - $520
1 - $920

[spowers454]

Only thing that my "general" play varies is I group 99 with tt and jj. The rest I would agree with

[illphillllllll]

i think you got everything pretty much figured out, only thing missing would be how the specific players at your table are playing. on a tight table i would be raising more than usual, i would be limping and calling small bets against a maniac. also in a tournament it depends on blinds and stack size. early stages and deep stack play set mining is how i like to play. shortstacked i am pushing with any PP, i have debated this with others but personally i find tournaments to be very tough to beat if your tight when shortstacked, sometimes you need to put yourself in gambling positions and hope to double. when i have an average chipstack i will play my PP's totally depending on position and players at my table which means i'm raising or folding, whatever i feel is best at the time.

[disturbeddd]

Re-visiting this one. In a $30 + $3 tournament with a $4000 guarantee. 119 players entered, 25 paid, and down to final 16. Sitting at 9th in chips with 25000 and blinds at 600/1200 with 120 ante.

I get dealt 66 UTG. With 1st and 2nd in chips at 99000 and70000 to my left.

Curious what would you do? I have played few hands, and when we have flipped, I have won every hand but one and that one I was 70% favorite when money went in 99 vs. A7o.

Thanks again for advice.

Payout structure
21 to 25 - $56
16 to 20 - $64
11 to 15 - $72
10 - $90
9 - $110
8 - $130
7 - $150
6 - $180
5 - $240
4 - $300
3 - $400
2 - $520
1 - $920

Well nice pot for the first. question was the chip leader in the pot and into 2nd or nie she played seriously or tried to get out of hand because I find important when I play low hands but hey das my opinion.

[dutibe]

Well, I'm mostly afraid of pocket 5s and lower. But pocket pairs in general are somewhat frightening to me. It is a little difficult for me to know how to play these cards without losing too much money if flop/turn comes up and nothing good is on.

[brickmason13]

Well alot depends on structure of the table ..Do you have mostly tight agressive players or lags etc But i would definitly want to see the flop
for as cheap as possible hopefully a 6 hits and your on your way. Small pairs are great if you hit your set because its usually hidden if you play them right..