Small Pocket
Pairs
I have received a lot of messages and e-mails concerning
small pocket pairs. The most common question I receive
in my inbox is basically: “How do I play small pocket
pairs?
The answer is far from simple because it depends on the
situation. Describing how small pocket pairs are played in
every Texas Holdem game would be virtually impossible. The
implied odds in no-limit texas holdem compared to limit are
massive, and can make different plays profitable. Even so in
high limit ringgames you will see players reraise with small
pocket pairs to go heads up against the initial pre-flop raiser
– moves like these are for advanced/expert players ONLY. Making
such moves with small pocket pairs as a novice poker player
will send you straight to the Pawn shop.
There are a few guidelines to play small pocket pairs in
fixed low limit ringgames. The main areas to focus on are
pre-flop play, position and odds. In low limit ringgames you
focus on small pocket pairs.
Small pocket pairs pre-flop and
odds
Later in this article I will tell you how to
play small pocket pairs profitably in low limit ringgames.
First of all I want to underline the importance of odds. Odds
should always determine your actions at a poker table – if you
play a sufficient number of hands the “luck” element will be
almost eliminated, and the winning player will be the one who
evaluate the odds correctly and makes the right decisions.
Small pocket pairs are great and can make you a lot of money
long-term, if you know how to play them correctly. When you
hold small pocket pairs (I define small pocket pairs as 22-77)
– the odds that your small pocket pair will hold up to showdown
unimproved are very slim, which means you have to flop a set in
order to win the hand. You will flop a set with your pocket
pair about 1/8 – which means you have to extract a minimum of 8
small bets from your opponents to make the call profitable
(because seven out of eight times you will not hit the flop,
and loose your hand).
If someone raises the pot after you enter the pot you most pay
2 small blinds to see a flop, which means you have to extract
16 small bets from your opponents to make the call profitable –
if all hell breaks loose after you enter the pot you can face a
cap, which means you have to pay 4 small blinds to see a flop
(need to extract 32 small bets from your opponents to make the
play profitable – almost impossible!). As this very simplified
example illustrated, you want to get in and see a flop as
cheaply as possible in order to flop a set and extract a lot of
money from your opponents.
Small pocket pairs pre-flop and
position
When I say you want to see a flop as
cheaply as possible it means you prefer to come into the pot
without someone in a later position raising the pot pre-flop.
The only way to minimize the risk of someone raising the pot is
to call the small pocket pairs only in middle to late
position.
If you look down on a small pocket pair in early position
you simply throw away the hand. The odds of someone raising the
pot behind you are simply too high, which will make your play
unprofitable long-term. You want to come into the pot with as
few players to act after you as possible. Small pocket pairs
are perfect for late position play, if you can get in cheap. If
you flop a set you have a very strong hand, and a good chance
of winning the hand.
Small pocket pairs and odds after
flop
“No set no bet” is the golden rule – if you
don't flop a set get out!
What if you don't hit? Is it worth trying to catch that other
5?
When you hold small pocket pairs after flop the odds of
improving your hand are very slim. The deck holds only two
cards that can give you a good hand and there are still 47
remaining cards in the deck, which means that you have 1/23 to
draw to your hand. If you decide to go to the river with your
small pocket pair your chance of improving is worse then 1/10.
There has to be a lot of money in the pot to make this call
profitable.
So unless it is a pair that could hold up without improvement,
drawing to it isn't a great idea.
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