Playing low pocket pairs

Correctly playing low pocket pairs is challenging even for experienced players. Top players grapple with this just like those just starting out. Unfortunately, there is no way to play low pocket pairs perfectly. Very rarely does someone. It’s gambling so that should be expected. Low pocket pairs are a good addition to a starting hand. However, holding on to them too long can be detrimental. After getting to the flop or river, low pocket pairs may be burdensome.

Exactly how to play a low pocket pair will differ based on the particular type of poker being played and also ones’ position at the table. We will briefly discuss the appropriate approaches based on these factors, below.

When playing Limit Hold’em, an individual with a low pocket pair can play effectively from any position. Most of the time, it is smart to fold prior to the flop. In No Limit Hold’em games players will have to consider how aggressive the other players are, where they are sitting at the table and the size of ones stack. This is especially true if individuals are participating in high stakes games.

Persons from an early position, if they limps, will need to be ready to raise or possibly re-raise. If a person has a low chip stack a decision will have to made about whether or not to call. Those with a heavy chip stack may be able to catch a set on the flop. In tournament play or when competing against tough players, it may not be a great idea to raise from an early position. If a person is in a late position, they may be able to get away with it.

Tags: playing, pocket pairs, Poker, strategy

This entry was posted on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 7:54 am and is filed under Poker News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.