[jrs0507]

How you play your pocket pairs in LHE will either make you a good amount of money or cost you a TON of money. Why? Because drawing to a set when you haven't made one is one of the worst draws in texas hold'em. You are a 12 to 1 underdog to hit your flop by the river, which means you will only hit it 1 out of every 13 times. If you're calling those pockets to the river when an opponent is betting, that means you are paying close to 20 big bets to draw to each set! Suppose you do hit a nut set and your opponent and you both cap it each round - your opponent can only put in at most 8 big bets into the pot. That means overall, you're paying 20 big bets to win at best, what can probably be 12-14 big bets.

One of the most common sayings among solid poker players is "No set, no bet!". If you've got those small pockets, you can go ahead and see a flop, but unless you flopped a set, most of the time you don't want to bother betting or calling.

[blitzfyr]

Yeah good point, thats how i play them usually.

Also, in NL i wont usually call a sizeable raise with a low pair although i know a lot people do. I wont want to play the flop if i dont make a set and usually wont be getting the odds of hitting my set on the flop following someones raise.

What really bugs me is when people call you all the way with a pocket pair lower than your pair with high kicker and hit their set on the river only to go, " I thought you were bluffing."

[KoOKoO]

I really like PPs. I play those hands nearly everytime. With a small pocket (<TT) I limp in at every position and call a raise of 4-5BB too when I had the implied odds, cause if I hit the set I usually win that round... But if I don't hit the set at the flop, and the enemy don't seems weaker I fold it, when it seems I try a big opening bet, or a big raise(if enemy called that then switch on the check/fold button).
With AA, KK I raise and reraise preflop always, but with QQ and I don't reraise always, it depends of how loose the enemy. With JJ and TT I raise but don't reraise. with AA you win small pots or lose big pots... I fold KK, QQ, JJ, TT when at flop appeared the A...
If I hit the set and in the board don't show straight- or flush drawing-danger then I try slowplaying my hand, if there's many calling stations I open with 1/3 - 1/2 potbet. When at the turn appaer the straight/flush drawing danger I change gear, and get more aggressive(open with pot, or try overbet - it seems like drawbluffing).

[beriac]

I love pocket pairs. I play them every chance I get, not because I find they win a lot, but because when they do they win big. Unless the pre-flop raising is uber-aggressive, I'll call to the flop (I'll raise if it's a big pocket pair). Then, if I flop overpair or trips, I'll do what I have to to maximize winning based on what draws are out there. Otherwise, I just fold it. The key is to maximize your winnings but minimize your losses.

I've found people find it hard to fold a pocket pair, they become attached to it, but really you gotta do it...

[BSgutshot]

Low pocket pairs are the most over-rated hands in poker. People who think these low cards are so great need to learn a thing or 2 about pot-odds. Say you're raise about 4 times the BB with your 3-3, and you only have about 10 times the BB, calling would be 40% of your chip stack, yet a lot of players will call ormove all-in. If you are against 2 overs you are only about a 55-45 favorite and if you're unfortunate enough to be up against a higher pocket pair, you are a 20-80 underdog, which is terrible position.

I usually only call the BB with low pocket pairs, maybe not even that sometimes depending on the situation. I like using pocket pairs if I am a short stack late in the tourney(in the money) for a quick double up.

Most people will think pocket pairs are a great chance of winning, but in reality, they are not.

[iceberg]

I usually try to get in cheap with small pocket pairs. No Set on the Flop, then I'm folding. If I hit a set with a Rainbow, then I'll slow play to the River. If the Flop, is coordinated then I go in with caution. Iceberg.

[thedane]

I tend to play unbelieveably loose anytime I'm dealt any pocket pair. I will definately call 4x the BB with any low pocket pair if not raising if the pocket pair is queens or larger. I play loose with these hands because if I would have flopped a set I always regret not playing it. This way I've got nothing to forget. I know this is actually a big flaw in my game though If I don't flop a set or at least an over pair I fold. Anyone else play pocket pairs as loose as me?

[BSgutshot]

I know other people who play pocket pairs like you, but I don't want to get into a childish name calling so I won't say what I think of them. Playing pocket pairs like that is not smart and will lose you a lot of chips fast unless you get lucky and draw a set. Read my post before that had the pot odds with them.

"Say you're raised about 4 times the BB with your 3-3, and you only have about 10 times the BB, calling would be 40% of your chip stack, yet a lot of players will call ormove all-in. If you are against 2 overs you are only about a 55-45 favorite and if you're unfortunate enough to be up against a higher pocket pair, you are a 20-80 underdog, which is terrible position."

[AGreen]

I definitely agree with your thoughts BS. I might actually be more tight than normal, so 2s-8s are usually in the muck if I'm UTG. On the button I may make a move with them. If you've got a pocket pair and you're thinking that much about flopping a set, it's probably best to get away. 99 and up are pocket pairs that I will put my money in with if I have a read on my table. Too many players see a bet like 5x the bb and will call with these hands and go broke. I'm tight and I accept it, but I don't perceive it as a flaw.

[Yearbookpoker]

Yep, BS is right on here. I play em the exact same way except I want to add one thing. If I am the chip leader or big stack in a tourney around MUCH smaller stacks I will push more with lower pocket pairs and hope to scare out or get a call and get lucky. Nice posting BS.