How to play Pocket 2s?

While I agree with most of ong's analysis, you can't be folding 22 pre in a 3-handed game against no pressure pre-flop. Your range is too tight to beat the rapid blinds if you're folding 22's when 3-handed.

Set-mining is always a valid tactic if you can see a flop for cheap and your opponents are likely to call at least 1 decent-sized bet, often more than 1.


Risking all-in on the first hand of a knock-out event is going to cause you more grief than joy, IMO.
If it's about more than winning... if it's about spending the time playing a game with friends... then I may even more strongly hesitate to risk getting knocked out of the game on the first hand.


Open shoving with 22 preflop is fine in HU play when blinds are high. If you get to a point where you are willing to flip a coin on one hand whether you stay or go... then that's the time to make a move like this. It's not about winning this hand, so much as it's about being unlikely to get another hand as good as this before you're out of chips to capitalize on it.

Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey

Set-mining is always a valid tactic if you can see a flop for cheap and your opponents are likely to call at least 1 decent-sized bet, often more than 1.

Does this mean I should have just called the BB rather than make it 80 pre flop? To see a flop in the cheapest way?

Originally Posted by Pen22

Does this mean I should have just called the BB rather than make it 80 pre flop? To see a flop in the cheapest way?

I hate limping. I'd raise to 2x or 2.5x as Vinland suggested. no need to press a 3x open blind v blind.

It gives them a chance to fold pre. EZ win, little risk. They don't have to fold very often for this to make your SB a bit more profitable, or less unprofitable, as the case may be.

Seeing the flop for cheap while also getting a chance to sometimes just grab the BB's blind is better in the long run.


Note: this is a standard sizing to open from SB. The size of the bet has nothing at all to do with the value of our hand, aside from the fact that we didn't fold it. So it's in the 40 - 50% of hands we don't fold when in SB and it's folded to us. We don't open bigger with AA than we do with 22 or 98s. We have a standard open bet sizing.

Note this advice applies specifically when its folded to us in the SB.

This is essentially a spin and go without the bonus prize pool modifiers/limiters.

my standard in spins is to shove all pocket pairs pre especially small pocket pairs to realize pre flop equity. Post flop with low pocket pairs you're going to be folding to almost any aggression and you don't have the stack depth to call to see a flop . You also don't have the stack depth to cbet the flop without pot committing yourself and if you are called on an unconnected rainbow board you are likely to be dead in the water.

online low stakes you'll also get called by enough junk to realize your equity and i'm guessing that this home game could well be the same.
You can also get better to fold pre like 22-99 , ace rag, k rag maybe 56s-qjs and if the non pairs do call we have decent equity

one qualifier is that the blind progression wasnt mentioned . if its a slow blind progression then you might want to reconsider as spin and gos are hypers or if you aren't rolled for the strategy you should be asking why you are playing in the first place .

Originally Posted by Keith

This is essentially a spin and go without the bonus prize pool modifiers/limiters.

This is true, with small PPs you almost need to shove or fold.
Hi Keith - long time no see
I remember you were active around here