Playing low pocket pairs in cash games

ianmc38

Really need advice here. Say you get dealt a pair in the range 22-88. How should you play it when UTG, mid position and when on the BB. I seem to be limping from every position, never raising and then folding to a bet or a raise when there are overcards on the flop and i havn't hit a set. Obviously this is horrible play, hence this post.

Advice please peeps.

pseudonym

For a low pocket pair, I think it really depends on how many are in the hand, your position and how everyone else is betting. With more than 5 or more, Id generally call a cheap flop and hope to make a set, but id fold preflop to a big raise. On making a set, Id bet big, unless someone bets big before me and i put them on a straight/flush draw, or unless theres 3 consecutive or suited cards down, then, i dunno.
If I dont make my set on the flop, and the flop is all overcards, ill throw em away to almost any raise, otherwise check it for as long as possible.
If the flop is undercards, with no obvious straight/flush on, would bet to try and close the hand, but would be very wary of someone calling reraising as they could have a higher pocket pair.

With very few in the hand, depending on the mood im in, ill either try to steal the blinds, or at least raise preflop to try and get some money in the pot (unless of course someone monster raises).

In all cases, would be wary if the table doubles up (unless you also hit your set obviously!), and also be wary of any high cards, esp Aces, as a lot of people will call a preflop raise with an ace and ANY other card.

ianmc38

Can anyone else give some input here? Its 1 of the biggest flaws in my cash game at d mo, so would appreciate some advice from the people here.

Imposter

Play them for set value. You'll hit a set about 1 time in 8 and you'll win with a set most times. You also have a few straights you can win with. As with nearly all things in poker it depends on your opponents. Will you be able to see the flop without a raise if you limp from early pos? from middle pos?
Will you get 8+ times any bets you call/make preflop from your opponents if you hit a set? Is there a chance you can take it down without hitting your set? So if you think a move is profitable make it. The only way to improve your results with regard to this and most things in poker is experience and knowledge of the odds as well as how to read the hand as it progresses.

Tackle

ianmc38 wrote:

I seem to be limping from every position, never raising and then folding to a bet or a raise when there are overcards on the flop and i havn't hit a set. Obviously this is horrible play, hence this post.

I don't think it's horrible play to fold to a bet if you don't hit your set and there's overcards on the board. The problem is even if you call the flop with your under pair, the board is going to look even more dangerous if more overcards fall or the board gets coordinated on the turn and river and then you'll probably end up folding anyway. That's if your not already behind to to a higher pair or a higher pocket pair. In .50/1 games I don't bother raising with low pocket pairs.

Basically with 22-88 I call from any position and bet the flop if I've got an overpair/set or I've got position and the board is steal friendly.

AmarilloFats

Mm, well I play 6handed. So rarely open limp. So when it's folded to me I raise with any PP..If there are limpers i might raise anyway...depending, and usually raise medium PP regardless of limpers.

The stack sizes are of huge importance...PP's play very well with deep stacks..
Limping, hitting sets, betting LINe is fine..But predictable and transparent..
Raising and betting with them is beeter..
you will steal blinds often also...

When u Raise you begin to build a pot...Limping and getting agro when hit set is not the way to stack people...

If you miss set a continuation will usually take it down..

Culchie

AmarilloFats wrote:

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The stack sizes are of huge importance...PP's play very well with deep stacks..

Very important point .... No point in limping in, if you are not going to get paid handsomely.

With a 8/1 chance of making a probable winning set, you should make sure you'll get paid big time.

In tourneys I get involved when opponents (and myself) are playing for at least 5% of stack value (giving 20/1 pay off possibilities)

fuzzbox

ianmc38 wrote:

Really need advice here. Say you get dealt a pair in the range 22-88. How should you play it when UTG, mid position and when on the BB. I seem to be limping from every position, never raising and then folding to a bet or a raise when there are overcards on the flop and i havn't hit a set. Obviously this is horrible play, hence this post.

Advice please peeps.

Full ring - fold 22-66 preflop in the first couple of positions. Its just too likely that there will be a raise behind you, and its hard to stack some1 when you are out of position.

Limp the rest.
In LP start open raising the medium pairs, but limping is ok too, and you can play the 22-66 pairs.
You can probably play all the pairs from MP.

6-max you can be more aggressive, but dont fall into the trap of constantly limping, then calling a raise, and trying to flop a set, and missing. You need to get a big payoff when you hit in order to pay for the times you miss, and its much easier to do that when you are in position.

ianmc38

Culchie wrote:

Very important point .... No point in limping in, if you are not going to get paid handsomely.

With a 8/1 chance of making a probable winning set, you should make sure you'll get paid big time.

In tourneys I get involved when opponents (and myself) are playing for at least 5% of stack value (giving 20/1 pay off possibilities)

I'll never play unless i've the max buy-in or more for the table or else max buy-in minus a few blinds.

ianmc38

Also, i only ever play 6-handed.