How do you play when you get dealt low pairs? Usually whenever I’m dealt low pairs I don’t know what exactly to do and what’s worst play badly. I badly need to hear your thoughts.

Thank you very much in advance.

Regards,
Jansen White
Jansen,

With most low pairs, I try and limp in or call a small raise and try to hit a set on the flop. Otherwise, I get rid of my low pairs to big raises.

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I know for a fact that there’s a huge difference in starting hand selection from full tables to short-handed tables. But what if you try to change the way you think, your mindset as far as the quality of your hand pre-flop when before you some players have folded?

Consider when you have Q10 in late position. Well, with many callers this might be the perfect hand you would push till the end however in short-handed games it would be a different story. Q10 will have a lot of potential when in short-handed games. But what if it’s folded around to you, will you change your thoughts and then just imagine you’re at a short-handed table? Do you think this will help?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Ricky
Ricky,

Q-10 in late position can be a playable. Whether to limp in or raise will depend on the remaining opponents etc. You may want to limp in and see a cheap flop, or you may want to take the pot right there.

When at a short handed table, you will need to widen your range of starting hand requirements as more hands become playable due to the reduction in the number of players.

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I’m into poker online. I know the cards online are seen as they are dealt and so of course I can see the first card come up, I can actually do something for the second card, perhaps “root” for a suitable one.

Say the first card you got was a 6 of clubs. It’s not the greatest card but you can play with it and even at times raise with 66, 76 suited, or A6 suited.

In case true, how would you play the above hands then? Any particular case you would play them? How about raising with them or else throwing them away without even limping in?

Well, I believe it should be considered first if the game was limit or not. Don’t forget as well other factors as position, bankroll relevant to the table itself, how many players are in the hand, and the instance that make them good or bad.

Now I know suited A6 would be sometimes desirable than the other ones but could also be played in some situations.

Any thoughts?

Best regards,
Jansen
Janese,

In Limit holdem I would play the 66 and the A6 depending on my position, but the 7-6 I would stay away from unless I was in the blind. 66 I would play as a limping hand in most positions and hope to flop a set. A6 I would limp in with or play from late position or the blinds in the hopes to pick up a flush draw or flop a couple of pair.

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Oftentimes I get dealt KK on the button when I’m at $25 NL online tables with already as much as $50.00 from my original $25 buy in. Few players would then limp in and one guy would raise something as $3.00. I would then re-raise something like $6.00 and everyone else would fold. He would then go to somewhere $20.00. I then would go all in and he’d call. Some low cards would then appear and he’d turn AA over.

Any thoughts? Do you think the kind of approach I have is just right?

Please I need your help.

Many thanks,
Jason
Jason,

Unless this player is one that is a super tight rock, then I think your approach is fine. Kings are only beat preflop by one hand. Even then, they can still out draw Aces nearly 20% of the time. This sort of situation happens, don’t worry about it.

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I want to ask something, it’s about pocket pairs particularly pocket 10′s and below. Well, some said it is far better to raise with strong pocket pairs as you prefer to play them against fewer players. But how about with lower pocket raise? And how do you normally play them from early, middle, and even late position?

Hope to hear from you.

Thank you so much and nice site!

Regards,
Dave
Dave,

From early and middle position, I try and limp in with my pairs in the event to hit a set. In late position I will raise with them. I am still hoping to hit a set, but if its gotten to late position without a raise, my pair may be best and maybe I can take the pot there.

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For few weeks now, I’ve been playing $0.25/$0.50 No Limit. I don’t understand so many things but for now, I’ll just ask few questions.

About trips, how do you play them? Through playing trips, I won over lots of pots however also lost much. If you are in a situation where few people limp in and you have AT in late position, say you call and flop comes A-A-8 rainbow, how would you play then in case everyone checked to you or there’s a small or large raise alternatively?

Another thing, say in late position you have 87 and several players call and then you limp in too. Flop comes A-3-9 rainbow. First to act places a small raise, $1, while two players call and two others two fold. I then figure out I have 8 outs to make an open straight 6 or 10. Do you think this would be a bad play to pay the $1 to see the turn card hoping to have the straight completed on the river? Same thing if you had A5′s for an instance and one of the flop cards is of the same suit, do you think it’s a stupid thing to call a small raise hoping to hit four to a flush on the turn? Any thoughts?

Regards,
Lee
Lee,

In the case there isn’t a flush or a straight draw on board, I am going to slow play my trips and let someone do the betting for me on the flop. If they don’t bet, then I will tend lead out on the turn and probably pick up the pot. Now if the turn doesn’t improve the board, I may again slow play. If I bet out on either the flop or the turn and face a raise, I am raising back as the only thing that is beating me is a pocket pair that has hit a boat or someone with a better ace. If that happens, it happens, but I am playing my set aggressively.

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I have something to ask, it’s something about how loose a table can go. In particular, how many players should be in around when being in a tourney with 9 players around and with K8o? Do you think it can be played middle position? Or else only late when like 80% of the players are in?

In middle position, what are the playable hands? And can suited connectors be played in middle position or only in late position?

Also, what are the hands considered to be middle hands? How about late position hands? And is 56s better compared to K7s? By the way, are both to be played when in the back? Or else middle position will do? I understand how loose the table needs to be considered but which table will it fit most, typical table, not too loose, not too tight, or what?

Thanks and nice site!

Regards,
Joe
Joe,

While I wouldn’t normally play K-8o, if 9 players are limping in to see the flop, I’m going to limp in to. 9 to 1 on my money is fantastic odds. If I miss, no worries.

In middle position, pairs can be limped in with, as well as A-10 through A-K. K-Q and K-J suited can also be limped in with. Pairs 9 and up can be raised as well as A-Ks, A-Qs, and A-J suited. Suited connectors other than high suited connectors should probably be played in late position only.

K-7s is better than 5-6s due to the high pair chances and better flush chance. Most hands that I recommended above are good hands to raise with in late position. I would limp in with a few other hands such as two cards 10 and up, suited or non, most suited connectors 7-8 and up, and suited aces.

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