Post by Randy C on Jul 5, 2006 10:44:36 GMT -4
Playing mdid pocket pairs can be tricky at times, and most players feel these paired hands have some magical quality...they do not! They are very susceptible to being beaten, but you can make a buttload of chips from them if played correctly.
When, and where you play these pairs is ultimately the most important facet, and the best way to increase your odds of winning with them.
Mid pocket pairs such as 66,77,88 and 99 are great from last position because you have all kinds of information from the people who have bet in front of you. From last position with either no callers or a few limpers, I will raise the BB 3 times. The reason why I only raise 3 times the BB here is because if I had no callers or a couple of limpers, it means that those other bettor's don't have much of anything, and it is likely that the BB and SB respectively MAY have a hand....so I tread lightly. Dependent on how many overcards I have on the flop will determine my betting for that round. If everyone checks to me, then I will make a solid bet between 3-5 times the BB or a 3rd to half of the pot.
From middle position, I will generally just limp in. I get a lot of flack for this, but I do it for a reason...and here it is: Mid pairs are what they call hidden hands. If I pick up a set...very few people will put me on it and will make a bet into me. By limping, I am setting a proposed trap...I have a 1 in 7 shot of catching that 3rd card for a set, so I really don't want to pump up the action too much and just give away my chips. However, if I do catch...I get paid. If I don't catch, and there is a good sized bet made by one or more players...I fold.
From early poles, again...I set the trap by simply limping in....but here, after the flop comes I will make a probe bet to see where I stand, provided I didn't catch. If I did catch...I will not make a bet at all, thus setting up a trap for the other players to bet. If I did not catch and I throw out a probe bet and I am raised...I fold.
When you catch a set, you can make a lot of money, plain and simple. Particularly if there is an Ace on the board with 2 or more callers. This is an ideal situation to exploit...and you must do so with vigor.
All In,
Randy C -
When, and where you play these pairs is ultimately the most important facet, and the best way to increase your odds of winning with them.
Mid pocket pairs such as 66,77,88 and 99 are great from last position because you have all kinds of information from the people who have bet in front of you. From last position with either no callers or a few limpers, I will raise the BB 3 times. The reason why I only raise 3 times the BB here is because if I had no callers or a couple of limpers, it means that those other bettor's don't have much of anything, and it is likely that the BB and SB respectively MAY have a hand....so I tread lightly. Dependent on how many overcards I have on the flop will determine my betting for that round. If everyone checks to me, then I will make a solid bet between 3-5 times the BB or a 3rd to half of the pot.
From middle position, I will generally just limp in. I get a lot of flack for this, but I do it for a reason...and here it is: Mid pairs are what they call hidden hands. If I pick up a set...very few people will put me on it and will make a bet into me. By limping, I am setting a proposed trap...I have a 1 in 7 shot of catching that 3rd card for a set, so I really don't want to pump up the action too much and just give away my chips. However, if I do catch...I get paid. If I don't catch, and there is a good sized bet made by one or more players...I fold.
From early poles, again...I set the trap by simply limping in....but here, after the flop comes I will make a probe bet to see where I stand, provided I didn't catch. If I did catch...I will not make a bet at all, thus setting up a trap for the other players to bet. If I did not catch and I throw out a probe bet and I am raised...I fold.
When you catch a set, you can make a lot of money, plain and simple. Particularly if there is an Ace on the board with 2 or more callers. This is an ideal situation to exploit...and you must do so with vigor.
All In,
Randy C -
