The Trouble With Pocket Pairs

By Lance Whinery
5-26-06

The trouble with pocket pairs is they are often only the best hand before the flop. And when they are the best hand after the flop, it is often difficult to tell. When finding pairs, (like any hand) there’s three options—fold, call, or raise. Each of these options has their place.

Fold a pocket pair, you ask? Isn’t that crazy? Not really, if they are small and you are in early or middle position. Remember, the chance of you making a set with your pocket pair off the flop is only about eight percent. Yes, this can give you a monster hand if you make it, but if not you are going to be looking at a board filled with over-cards and the unfortunate position of having to act first. Someone easily could have made something better—especially if more than one other player is in the hand—and your lowly pair may get called or raised on a bet. If you check, even if it checks around, you’ll have to deal with a new fourth over-card on the turn and another check is just going to make you look weak.

So what about calling at www.FullTiltPoker.net and then just getting out of the hand if you don’t hit it? This is a very viable option. However, in early position you risk having someone raise you and now you’re stuck having to dump your measly pair of Threes after already committing a blind. Another thing to consider is how calling appears to other players. If I see someone just smooth call, when they usually play tight and stay in a hand by raising, I often consider they are doing it with a small pair (or a bad suited ace). I may raise with anything just because I know I can force that hand out. Limping in with small pairs is best done in later position where it’s safer.

Finally, the last option is to raise. If you decide to play a smaller pair, this is a good option because you disguise your hand a little—especially if you do indeed hit your set. You also may push many players out of the hand and the fewer there are to hit a higher pair, the better. In fact, if you can take the pot right there without having to show your cards at all, then that’s probably the best thing that can happen. And if you are holding a decent sized pair or even a big pair, you want to raise to protect your hand. Remember, 10-10 shrinks a lot when the board comes something like A-K-6.

Lastly, respect the board. I have seen many a novice player overestimate the value of a pair in his hand and stay in because they think it will hold up. I’ve also seen them not make a stand if the other player seems weak as well and allowing that person to hit a better card on the river. By that same token, it is always good to be aware of who you are playing against. Are they the kind of person that thinks 7-7 is the greatest thing in the world? This might cause you to play differently with that player than another better player who knows that Q-Q loses just the same as a pair of Twos with an Ace on the board.