Small pairs
Written by: Ryan Kirkham
To me a
small pair is anything below pocket 9’s and is always a difficult hand to play
in Texas Hold ‘em. The most successful place to play a small pocket pair in my
eyes is in late position, when there have been no raises and most of the table
has called the big blind. If you believe anyone in a later position (SB and BB)
is going to bet your small pair should be folded, but if the later positions are
tight players you should call and see a cheap flop.
Now lets say for example you are small blind, you are dealt 44 and 3 players in
earlier position call the big blind. With no raises you have a good idea that
the players before you cant have big pocket pairs or two big connecter cards
(e.g. AK, KQ, JQ etc.) giving you a possible slight advantage going into the
flop.
To show
you the type of advantage (and disadvantage) you are looking at with pocket
pairs pre-flop take note of the table below:
|
Vs. |
66 |
22 |
|
AK
(s) |
52% |
50% |
|
JT
(s) |
48% |
45% |
|
Q5
(os) |
69% |
53% |
|
98
(s) |
50% |
45% |
|
54
(os) |
83% |
50% |
|
73
(os) |
71% |
52% |
There is
only a 20% that you will beat any higher pocket pair around the table.
Now it has been shown that small pocket pairs are at a large disadvantage
against suited connecters and bigger pocket pairs, it is easy to see why it
would be unprofitable to call raises pre-flop. As big pairs and suited
connecters are the main cards players raises with.
Ideally
the flop you are looking for is (something like) Q84 rainbow; giving you your
set but putting none of your opponents on a straight or flush draw.
Now from this flop it will be easy to see who has made a pair (anyone with Q or
perhaps 8), as they will more than likely bet. If the action comes to you and no
one has bet, this is your chance to narrow the field and check other opponents
hand strengths. By making a small bet (the big blind) anyone who has missed the
flop will fold and anyone who has made a pair will want to see the turn and
call, giving you a good idea what you are up against.
By the
turn there should be quite a pot to play for (maybe 8x the big blind) and now
its important to ensure you take that pot.
One way you could play the turn and river is by trying to get the remaining
players to fold.
Why? you
ask, because narrowing the field even more will give you a better chance of
winning the pot!
As you can see from this table: (chance of winning (%))
|
|
22 |
33 |
44 |
55 |
66 |
|
Against
1 random hand |
46% |
47% |
49% |
51% |
52% |
|
Against
2 random hands |
28% |
30% |
32% |
30% |
34% |
|
Against
3 random hands |
22% |
24% |
23% |
26% |
27% |
|
Against
4 random hands |
18% |
15% |
18% |
19% |
23% |
Small
pairs do better when there are fewer players in the pot
By betting aggressively (3-5x the big blind) you may get the remaining players
to fold, giving you the pot.
But if someone calls after such a bet (or even re-raises) it should be taken
into consideration that the player might have hit something on the turn (top
pair, middle pair plus high kicker, even flush or straight draw
If he has hit 2 pair on the flop this could spell disaster for your small pair:
in this example
44 Vs. Q8
with the flop 4Q8 and both still in the pot going into the turn, both can hit a
full house if 8 or Q shows on the turn or river. But if either show you will be
playing what you believe to be a strong hand but it is a hand which can only win
if you hit quad’s on the river (less than 1% chance).
Again
this shows why it is important to bet as not only does it narrow the field it
also makes its expensive for players to stay in the pot and get the cards they
need to beat you!
To
conclude, you want to see the flop with small Pocket pairs as cheaply as
possible, if you hit your trips, then bet aggressively, it not, then muck.