I has a low pair

[Deanglow]

Low pairs are easy to play. I fold them from UTG and UTG+1 at a full ring table and fold them from the blinds against most raises unless it is a multiway pot or I'm sure the big blind is a 70/10 donk.

It's also pretty bad to call EP raises from EP and usually MP to setmine. Way too often we're getting squeezed off our hand by a loose reg or a shortstacker.

One thing I love small pairs for is this:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

UTG ($80)
UTG+1 ($675.65)
MP1 ($400)
MP2 ($476.20)
CO ($406)
Button ($1092.60)
Hero (SB) ($739)
BB ($425.80)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6, 6
6 folds, Hero bets $12, BB raises to $40, Hero raises to $739 (All-In)

If a player loves to 3bet in position then it is +ev to shove on them for 100bb. Calling in this spot would be horrific, but going all in makes us money.

And please never call normal-sized 3bets with them unless you're at least 200bb deep and in position.

Ask me about shitty situations you get in with small pairs; post some hands!

Middle pair (and more interesting) strategy coming up.

[ZwiFT]

first off, this is extremleeei exploitable. Drunk now, discuzz tomorroz

[bigspenda73]

Actually took an opponent doing this to me in a bvb war for me to take the time to run the math and realize it's certainly +EV against someone who isn't a ridic. tight 3bettor.

[elipsesjeff]

Yeah, for sure. I can ask though:

Whats minimum 3bet % are you doing this vs for an opponent in this spot? Does fold to 4bet matter? And, are you doing this EVERY time here or a certain % that you have figured out already? What, if anything, are you doing to merge your range here?

[Deanglow]

Some people love to 3bet on the BU and CO more than in the blinds (like me), I guess it is a feel thing. Some guys 3bet me 25% or even 50% of the time I raise from the SB which makes it an obvious shove with 22. I don't have a certain percentage I shove with out of position (I guess its somewhere between 5-10%), but I think small pairs and Ax suited are the best hands for it.

I've had interesting conversations with good players who don't like to 4bet/fold. They either call the 3bets out of position and play postflop, fold, or shove with their value and bluff hands. Now, what is for value and what is a bluff depends on the opponent ldo.

[Benzooka]

Why shove instead of 4bet/fold? This seems only sensible against regulars so I would think it to have near the same fold equity until they adjust either way. I'm interested though, so please elaborate.

erm. The question I'm wondering is, why shove instead of 4bet/CALL?

I'd think that would get more unpaired hands to get it in vs you, which is good.

oh that interesting, i did the math and our EV with a low pair vs overcards is +10BB, which is basically the same as if he just folded pre. If stacks are slightly bigger we want the allin, if there is more dead money already in we want him to fold pre.

[mixchange]

Fantastic post. I love your overall comments about playing the small pairs in FR, please continue.


I guess the only problem in my head with shoving here, is

#1 are we vs. a reg or unknown or fish?
#2 have we 4betted at all or 4bet shoved yet? shown down anything?

I guess I don't really expect anyone to 4bet shove KK/AA here, so I think we may get all in vs villain more while behind than if we had 4betted and allowed him to decide to 5bet or fold

obv if we have history this all changes

[Deanglow]

1. I've done this against a fish because they're more prone to 3bet for value
2. Image isn't a big factor to 4bet shove the small pairs. Obviously if they know you're crazy then don't do it. But then they probably 3bet you light less anyway.

[mxiu]

more on this! how is this play with SC's?

[badgers]

dean how do you know if a player loves 3betting in position? Just good memory and note taking or do you analyse stats by position?

[mxiu]

your stats should tell you how often he's 3-betting you in what position and whatnot

[Deanglow]

I don't pay attention to those specific stats really. I just know who 3bets me a lot and who doesn't and base it on that

[Renton]

its better if you go 16 from the sb

[mxiu]

what do you do about a light 3-bettor when they do it oop though? and you raised on puck with 22? 100 bb stacks?

[Deanglow]

fold