http://www.kushmoney.com/problems-playing-pocket-pairs/ Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:30:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.kushmoney.com/problems-playing-pocket-pairs/#comment-8934 ShadowElf Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:35:12 +0000 http://www.kushmoney.com/?p=2475#comment-8934 Playing small pockets also includes being able to put your opponent on a hand. I don't mind seeing a cheap flop with 6-6 and know I can get away from it, with several opponents if I don't connect with the flop, but against a single opponent that raised 3x mid. and you call from the BB with 6-6, your probably ahead with a flop like 8-5-2, but he will most likely call with a good A. I will still small ball, but a reraise might tell you he has better pockets, or just doesn't want to get pushed holding A-K. It's best to have a read on the style of your opponent and betting habits. But, by keeping it small you can usually call a min reraise, and see the next card. With small pairs knowing how to proceed and when to get away is crucial. Unless you know an opponent will check behind you on the turn and see another card, if say a J comes out, and he misses, betting gives info. checking leaves you in the dark and gives him a chance to steal it. Also if he is reading you, c-betting the J after just calling pre-flop, he knows that is in your range of the pre flop call. If he's holding A-K, A-Q, or any pair below J-J, he's not felling good about his hand right now and may just give it up. Playing small pockets also includes being able to put your opponent on a hand. I don’t mind seeing a cheap flop with 6-6 and know I can get away from it, with several opponents if I don’t connect with the flop, but against a single opponent that raised 3x mid. and you call from the BB with 6-6, your probably ahead with a flop like 8-5-2, but he will most likely call with a good A. I will still small ball, but a reraise might tell you he has better pockets, or just doesn’t want to get pushed holding A-K. It’s best to have a read on the style of your opponent and betting habits. But, by keeping it small you can usually call a min reraise, and see the next card. With small pairs knowing how to proceed and when to get away is crucial. Unless you know an opponent will check behind you on the turn and see another card, if say a J comes out, and he misses, betting gives info. checking leaves you in the dark and gives him a chance to steal it. Also if he is reading you, c-betting the J after just calling pre-flop, he knows that is in your range of the pre flop call. If he’s holding A-K, A-Q, or any pair below J-J, he’s not felling good about his hand right now and may just give it up.

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