Allgamer.com

Hello,

First I would like to commend you for this nice site. Keep up the good work.

Well, I’m actually here to ask you something. I’m just a newbie and have actually tried playing small pocket pairs recently. The experience was really intriguing.

At a certain table, I had 22 with a similar flop of 2 6 T rainbow. Unfortunately, because other players who called preflop had 66, I didn’t win such hand. Also he called post flop. I thought I then bet the river but later on discovered things went differently, also called post flop.

After the flop I was really troubled. I was thinking what if someone started with starting hands like 55, TT, 52s, T5s and even T2s that was being slow played and could eventually beat me with a draw on the turn or else on the river.

Now, is it the nature of the betting scenario that creates the confidence to play small pairs or is it an odds or probability scenario? Any thoughts? By the way, any specific way I should play small pocket pairs? Most of the time, I play limit holdem tournament style.

Thanks and more power!

Regards,
Phillip
Phillip,

Small pairs in limit are usually playable, sometimes to a raise in later position. You still want to hit the flop hard with them. When you do flop your set, bet your hand aggressively. The odds of a player flopping a set is around 11% so don’t worry about another player flopping a set too. It happens and when they flop a bigger set, you will lose usually, but that is just part of the game. Most of the time, you will win a nice pot with your set.

Hello,

A certain player asked you once about losing or barely breaking even at low limit where no one ever folds and you told him that he has to loosen up a little to adjust with skill or self control matters and then later on be able to play more hands and think about post flop instead of preflop odds.

Recently, I was involved in a particular situation that has something to do with the concern above of a certain player. Well, I’ve seen flop rates of 80-90%. At least half the time, 9 out of 10 players have called or raised the flop. I then concluded that it was a bit impossible for them to later hit a gut shot straight or back door flush however when 9 appears on every hand, maybe just at least one of them might hit any moment.

At the table back then, I was the 10th and was actually bothered of players playing J3 off suit, not folding to my raises while I was on pocket kings, seeing 5 or more go to the river on every hand that comes long and a gut shot straight pulling down the pot itself. Almost everyone were playing baldy then and so no one seemed to lose or win. I badly want to win the pots but it seemed so hard for me as some players had taken down the pots with 38 off in moments when I have raised with my trips.

I’m actually really curious now, I believe I played very tight then however loosened up a little later, how come I lost with a lot of chases to the flop and the like? Maybe instead of loosening up a little, I should have just played more tighter, what do you think?

Well, because a straight or better seems to win every hand, I believe I need to stop playing for pairs, even top ones. Not playing anything less than KTs sounds sensible to me. Maybe I’ll just call any pair to the flop and fold if I don’t hit a trip. Also call suited connectors to the flop and get out if I don’t hit.

What do you think of my plan? Please I need to hear from you.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Anthony
Anthony,

In games that you are in, you need to loosen up your requirements. In hand in which you can see flops cheap, any pair, any suited ace, any two big cards 10 and up. Most suited connectors and gapers from 7-8 and up, and even unsuited connectors 8-9 and up are playable. If you flop or connect with a pair, you are usually staying in to the end as you are getting the right price. The same is true of open ended straight and flush draws. Don’t chase gutshots too much as you don’t have but 4 outs to hit your hand. If you hit a big hand, push the hand and get more money in the pot to win bigger pots when you hit.

Hello,

I have problems about getting into hands I have no business being in and betting with over cards in cases when the board is of no help to me. I believe I badly need to know when to lay some hands I can’t use to my advantage at all. Same thing, I need to understand what I should play and what I should fold post-flop.

Say in late position you are holding KTo and you call the blind. Play then ends up 4-handed, both blinds, button and you. Flop brings Q83 rainbow and then it’s check to you. Will you check or bet? More or less, I’d bet this. How about you?

I would love to hear from you soon.

Thanks in advance.

All the best,
Matthew
Matthew,

It depends on the players at my table. If you have 3 other opponents, the odds of you being beind will be greater, but then again you may only be behind to bottom pair. If you are in position, a bet may take down the pot. Then again, you may get a check raise. It all depends on the players.

If you believe you are having problems with hands involving over cards, the simple solution is to slow down when you miss the flop. Sometimes over cards are good to speculate with, but they are easily dominated.

Hi,

Assume you are with 22 on the button. There were five players then who limped in. Consequently, you made a call for the minimum to see the flop. It was K 9 3 rainbow. Right on the flop, first to act placed a min bet and other four called.

Now, with 6 min bets on the flop and five people limping post flop, is it wise to make a set? It seemed to me it’s one small and your getting pot odds about 11 to 1. Hitting another card in my set on the turn will bring about 22 to 1. However with the implied odds being very good in case I hit, is it a good call then? Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Noel
Noel,

With so many bets in the pot, you need to call and try to hit your set. You were fortunate he bet in such a way to allow you to draw to your set.