Hi,
The other night, I was in a weekly game with 8-10 players. Tables were very passive at the start, lots of players have called the big blind and have never raised before the flop, they were tight. Do you think such situation can justify playing rag hole cards?
Well, for me, you can expect players to have at least one face card as they’re tight. Though I have face cards then I wouldn’t be that confident in case I flop a pair. However if I play rags and then pair middle or top pair on the flop, someone with Ace King might call me to the river to win win. In addition, if I flop 2 pair or be in a great tension with a straight or full house at the turn or river, it’s impossible there’d be someone who won’t believe I’d stay to the river with those cards.
Once in a certain game, I was the chip leader and decided to play a 4 – 6 off suit. Flop back then was 5 Q 6 rainbow. Later I flopped middle pair and stayed as I had a big stack and bets were okay. Turn came and brought 7. River followed and was an 8. I had only 1 opponent, he had J Q, top pair. I then decided to raise and was actually called. He can’t believe I played my hand to the river.
Any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Tristram
Tristram,
If you have a table of tight players, you can consider playing your rag cards, especially if you can get in cheap. However if you miss and face resistance, get out of the hand.
If you are a chip leader, you can open up your hand ranges with the hopes of trying to bust shorter stacks or hit lucky and add chips to your stack.
Hi there!
I’m usually into trouble when in low limit I flop middle pair. For an instance 10 players, 4-5 have seen the flop and pot unraised pre-flop. I then bet with an overcard, from an early position, or if its checked around to me in a late position. I bet because I actually want others to fold or else raise. 2 or 3 players then appeared and I was not sure if they’re drawing as often they have top pair, weak kicker. Any advice on how I should play middle pair?
Your help will be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Skyler
Skyler,
In limit, middle pair is usually a hand that you are going to make check-calls with unless there is either very little money in the pot, or the player is one that you know has you beat. Such as you flopping middle pair and a rock of a player is betting the pot. In that spot, you can usually fold. In most cases, calling down is usually correct as you are getting the right price to call a bet in most cases.
Hi there!
I would just like to ask something. Do you know when one should call with middle pair? Well for a number of times, I’ve seen players win with middle pairs not improved and middle pair which improves to two pairs. Should I consider outs and pot odds here?
Please help me. Thanks a lot!
Best regards,
Alastair
Alastair,
Pot odds should definitely be considered when calling with middle pair, but also the type of player you are playing. I am folding middle pair to a tight play, I am probably calling down against a loose or weak player.
Hello,
In a certain game, there was a preflop raise. I played right after the raiser with either AK or mid pair. I then called though I was not so sure. Raiser then placed a bet on the flop. For a while I paused and pondered on what I should do next. I consider what if he has a pair, well he’ll be way ahead but if he doesn’t then I’ll be the one to be way ahead. I guess I should just guess what he has, specifically if he has an over pair or not. Unfortunately, some players have placed a bet on the flop after a raise probably 90% of the time so it’s then quite hard to ascertain what’s behind him. I need clarity.
Glad to hear from you soon.
Thank you very much!
All the best,
Collin
Collin,
You need to work on being able to put your player on a hand range. Something like a middle pair is a hand that you should be trying to flop a set with. A-K is a hand that is really just a glorified drawing hand. Usually someone raising in early position has a good hand. They may be raising with ace high and making a continuation bet, but do you really want to risk that with Ace high or a low pair?
