Ed Hill Poker - Poker Articles

Playing Pocket Pairs

In online cash games, pocket pairs can be the most profitable starting hand if played properly. If misplayed, however, they can be very costly.

Whilst some tend to flat call, others prefer to always make a raise. Neither is the wrong decision, it all depends on your own personal style and the type of players at the table. Whilst calling can catch a set in a multiway pot, raising will narrow the field. The former strategy may scoop bigger pots, but the latter will bring many smaller ones, it’s almost a case of quality versus quantity?

Personally, although I like to mix it up so opponents don’t identify patterns and trends, I prefer to smooth call. Due to the nature of online poker, having a flopped set paid off is much more likely than in live cash. In a brick and mortar casino, people are more open to laying down their overpairs to heavy action. They are playing face-to-face and are wary about looking foolish.

Online, however, people are fearless as they are playing anonymously and can hide behind their computers if they make the wrong decision. Therefore, I like to call my pocket pairs in multiway pots in order to catch an opponent with top pair.

What you mustn’t do though is become too attached to your pocket pair if you miss. Calling bets, especially if there has been a preflop raise, is a very dangerous move indeed as you may be obliged to call a value bet further down the line.

If you miss, then just release. Now and then, if you sense weakness, a bet or checkraise is an option, but to go down this route too frequently is questionable and not particularly profitable in the long run.

If you are an aggressive player who prefers to raise their pocket pairs, then by all means do so. Some players play better against fewer opponents, so thinning the field becomes a wise move.

Once again, don’t become too attached, but, if you are willing to raise preflop with something like pocket sevens, then you ought to back it up with a continuation bet. If you encounter heavy action, then I’d seriously consider releasing and living to fight another day. Unless you are lucky enough to turn or river a set, you are unlikely to scoop much of a pot.

If you are fortunate enough to flop your set, then your next decision is very much based on your views of the players still remaining in the hand. If they are aggressive and likely to reraise, then bet. If they will fold to a bet, then check. This is why studying your opponents and taking notes is of the utmost importance.

When I refer to pocket pairs, I am talking about nines and below. For me, tens and above are undoubtedly raising hands, as if you call and hit your flop with tens or jacks, it is less likely that the flop will be accompanied by higher cards that will have paired off your opponents. If there is a Queen, King, or Ace (or two of these) on the board, then you run the risk of having your set outdrawn by a straight draw or a higher set. In essence, the key is to flop a set on a safe flop where your opponent is likely to have made top pair.

To conclude, pocket pairs are an extremely valuable hand and, unless encountering a big preflop raise, should be played as much as possible. Use your knowledge of your opponents to extract the maximum amount if you hit, but approach with extreme caution, taking the pass into serious consideration, if you miss.

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