pocket 2s-10s ? Best strategy?

[lesbolove]

I've been playin holdem for years, but yet have never been able to settle on a good strategy for small pockets (2s-10s).
Forget heads up or short stacked, if ur out of position with 8s say, what is the best approach. I've tried raising, calling bb and seeing flop, not playing at all, all ins and tossing to any raise - and cannot seem to reach an acceptable method that gets a reasonable regular return.

Any ideas?

[dallas336]

What I have read says to limp in and try to catch a set on the flop. If you don't, fold as the odds get very bad on the turn and river.

[Dazzler69]

In my opinion there is no set way to play middle pair, and when I say middle pair I mean 66-10s, anything lower than that I wouldnt play out of position unless the table is super-super-tight. How I play depends on the player playing at the table. If they are tight then I'd throw in a raise but if I get re-raised by a tight player then I may throw them in the muck. But if the players are loose and playing lots of pots but not raising, then I'll just try to see the flop as cheap as possible.

Middle pocket pairs are definately a hand you'd want to the see the flop with but, signs of strength from a tight player should set off a few alarms. However if you are bossing the table when you get this pairs I'd continue bossing coz you have a good hand.

[lesbolove]

thanks for the input guys - still not sure though as i've tried many ways to approach these pairs. The bottom line seems to be that no matter what you do, the outcome (if you stay in) will of course depend on the flop, and with no previous signs of strength, there is no way of knowing where u stand (obviously if u don't hit that is). Of course a judgement will prevail at this point, but is it better to raise pre-flop as a tester and then hope for a low flop... im still not sure..keep 'em coming though

[jonojazz]

limp to the flop, if you hit your set push, if not fold.

[lesbolove]

ok- look, the point of limping in is well documented but in actuality, you hardly ever hit your cards (as there's only 2), is there any value in some kind of raise as a better return (if ur in position), will you push others out more often than not - yes you may lose more than just the big blind, but you may sweep a lot more, knowing that u have a hand if u have to play it. This is really my dilemma, as i feel there may be some merit to this in the longrun -but i want to know if anyone plays this way to give me some insight.

[pocketkay18]

i usually bet preflops..high to knock out any durt hands..

and PRAY TO GOd its a low board like.....5....3..6....than i all in = )

[lesbolove]

ok so in the long run do u think you push others off and win more than u lose, or do u get stuffed more often than not? if u always do this, i would like to know ur opinion please

[scrawnybob]

hi all

interesting discussion not sure my 2p's worth will be much help though as I feel like I over play low pairs (which I know is a sin and not +EV play blah blah etc)

Its worth noting that statisitically you are just as likely to hit one of your 3's (2 left in) as anyone with Aces is to hit their 3rd (2 left in)

The difference is not the chances of hitting trips - but the value of them when you do

That I think is the tricky bit - so you hit trip 2's but there is an 8 on the board and trip 8's is also a real possibility, then a J comes on the turn - hell now trip Jack's could be out there

So even when you make you could be in trouble - thats like getting a flush and the boards pairing on the turn - your great hand could be dead to a FH

Of course the chances are everyone had junk from the off and your well ahead - but still

Personally I still play 22-99 and in late position I'll play it even if someone raises (maybe not a massive raise) but low pocket pairs 22-99 are potential killers for your opposition

they hide nicely and who is going to put you on 44 if you called a x2 BB raise ?????

In most players minds (tight / rocks / wannabee maths geeks) any raise pretty much should cut out junk hands - it doesnt & shouldnt - alot of badbeats really really are not bad beats - just allowing someone to continue with a bad play and make luck and your bad beat.

if you in late position - forget it as a raise - add up the bets so far and assess your odds - then factor in your implied odds (guesswork) based on how much the table has called off in extra bets and you may just find you 44 is playable (at least to the flop)

I think the depends hits again - some tables I would play low pairs up against players who I know are tight so holding better and hope to crush them on the flop / other tables I would see the flop cheap as so many called before -

hell you might want to narrow the field with AA to cut out the luck - with bottom end of 22-99 you want more callers to keep giving you pot odds to chase the trips

cheers scrawnybob

[klampon2]

well that was a nice input scrawny thnx for that

klampon2