Pocket pairs are dealt to a player approximately once every eighteen hands in Texas Holdem, but when you do get them you need to know how to play them to maximize their value. Not all pocket pairs are great and some of them will usually cost you money rather then making you money. You need to play certain pocket pairs differently then other pocket pairs and we’ll look at which approach you should take for each one. You’re usually going to be a favorite when you have a pocket pair, but there is a potential for being behind in the hand before the flop so be careful with low pockets. We’ll now look at some tips you can use for playing certain pocket pairs.
Low Pocket Pairs – 2′s to 7′s
When you have low pocket pairs, which I consider to be anything from pocket twos to pocket sevens you need to be cautious. You usually won’t win these hands unless you win it before the flop, which is your best bet. If you’re in an early position then you should throw out a raise in hopes you take the pot down right now, if someone calls you then you want to hit a set. If you don’t hit a set and the board is all high then your opponent probably hit a higher pair. You could try bluffing at this point, but you might just want to see if your opponent comes out betting. Low pocket pairs are best to see the flop for cheap and then fold if you don’t hit your set. If you think the opponent is bluffing then you could go for it, but you’ll need to determine that based on how the player has been playing at the table.
Middle Pocket Pairs – 8′s to 10′s
Middle pairs are a lot more solid then low pairs and hold up a lot more times then low pockets do. You should play these little more aggressively than low pockets as sometimes the flop will be all cards lower then your pair. You might also hit a set on the flop or have straight options, which could assist you in winning the hand. When you’re low on chips you might want to decide to throw the rest of your chips in the pot before the flop with your middle pocket pair.
High Pocket Pairs – Jacks to Aces
When you’re blessed with high pocket pairs you need to determine whether you should slow play them or raise heavy. I tend to raise about four times the big blind so that the junk folds. Sometimes everyone will fold and you will win a small pot, but most times at least one player will call you. Once the flop comes, if you feel safe about being in the lead then you need to slow play and let your opponent bet into you. If they don’t then I would advise you to make a bet on the turn and either win the pot or find out where you stand. High pocket pairs can be broken and you need to remember that they aren’t guaranteed hands.
As you can see you need to play certain pocket pairs differently then other pocket pairs. It’s important that you don’t fall in love with every pocket pair you get because a lot of them can be broken easily by higher pairs, straights and flushes. So watch out when you do get your pocket pairs and try minimizing your risks and maximizing your value.