Low Pocket Pairs - Correct Way to Play?

Hello,

I currently am up to about a $1500 bank roll - playing $50 NL now. I used to only limp with low pocket pairs, and fold to a raise - however, I am now trying something different.

If the raiser has a "large" enough bankroll at the table - and I believe i can take most his stack if a set hits - i'll make a call. I.E.// if we both ahve $50 stacks, and i limp (50 cents), and villian raises to $2.00 - i'll make a call based on the fact that if it hits, I feel i can take his stack.

Is this a bad way to play, am i just bleeding $$ this way?

Andrew.

Are you playing SH or FR?

I play 6 max and raise all my pocket pairs if I'm the first in the pot.

The problem with always limp/calling your pocket pairs is that if you ever play with people who pay attention, they'll know when you hit a set and never pay you off.

I play exclusively Full Ring - and find that people will often go all out with A/A K/K even if i hit my set.

I've just changed my way of playing pocket pairs. If everyone limps up to me I'll raise 3-4xBB and no matter what the flop is I'll bet it.

A lot of the time people fold after they called preflop so I take down the pot.
Sometimes you will get a caller and if someone re-raises and I'm on 22 then I'll fold but if I have like 88 and the board is 237 I'll call...because I think they are waiting for A/K to hit.

Earlier today I had 44, someone called and I hit my 4 on the turn


I play nl25 full ring.

OP: I thought everyone called small raises with pocket pairs.

I don't think it's bleeding chips. In fact, I think it's much more wrong to limp/fold there.

common rule of thumb...

if raiser has not raised more than 10% of his stack ($5 of a $50 stack), you make the call. especially, if you are more than HU.

I think it's ok to limp call 22-66 from EP if the table's loose because A. you will get paid when you hit your set B. it's hard to c-bet the stations out OOP when you don't hit. If the table's tight I raise them from any position though. And I only limp them from UTG since I'm playing 6max.

The 10% rule is great, just remember it's about effective stack size, you have to have 10 x the bet too.

I think as always it depends on your opponents. If it is a loose passive game, I'd limp all day long and hunt for sets. Why raise if you are going to get 4 callers with your pocket 4's anyway? The implied odds of getting paid off by even top pair weak kicker when you hit a set in that type of game are usually pretty good. In that game, if I don't hit a set, I fold to any aggression. If I am playing against more skilled opponents, I'm popping it up if I'm first in the pot. If its late in a tourney, I'm popping as the first player in the pot. If I'm called, post flop I'm making a continuation bet. I think it totally depends on opponents and what you are playing (cash game vs. tourney and what stage of tourney).

Originally Posted by Balboni

I think as always it depends on your opponents. If it is a loose passive game, I'd limp all day long and hunt for sets. Why raise if you are going to get 4 callers with your pocket 4's anyway? The implied odds of getting paid off by even top pair weak kicker when you hit a set in that type of game are usually pretty good. In that game, if I don't hit a set, I fold to any aggression. If I am playing against more skilled opponents, I'm popping it up if I'm first in the pot. If its late in a tourney, I'm popping as the first player in the pot. If I'm called, post flop I'm making a continuation bet. I think it totally depends on opponents and what you are playing (cash game vs. tourney and what stage of tourney).

Yes, bottom line is that you need to play them in a way that they are going to be most profitbale. In general, the 10x rule is a good rule of thumb. This has been discussed over and over here. No one method of playing them is going to work at every table. In a loose, agressive game, you should limp them from EP as you will bleed chips to all of the calling stations who have position on you. In a tight game, I raise them from every position. Cbetting depends on who called me and my position. I play 6 max $50nl if that makes any difference...

i thought check/fold for anything below 99 was the best strategy. pay anything but all in to see the flop but give up after that.

obviously you will miss out sometimes but doesnt aok say to 'sneak' in even upto TT