How to Play Big Pairs Post Flop
Big Pairs post flop are likely still in front. Big Pairs are classed at AA, KK, QQ and JJ. In playing big pairs after the flop you will often know quite quickly whether your hand is in front of not. A single pair is often enough to win a pot in Hold'em but you will have to judge your strength on the 3 cards that constitute the flop.
If you are sitting on a monster- KK you ideally want all 3 cards on the flop to be of lower value than K. Lets say the flop comes Q-T-9, you are in very good shape. You can only be beat if an opponent was sitting on a pair and has flopped a set, or they have 2 pair. It is also possible that someone has KJ which is a very playable hand, especially in low limit games. You should however still assume that you have the best hand.
Remember in Low Limit Hold'em you will make your money from having the best hand and making your opponents call with lesser hands. In the example above where all cards on the flop are under the value of your pair, against a couple of players you are more than a 2-1 favorite. On the occasion that you come up against 2 pair and a set and you opponent re raises your raise, approach with caution.
If you come up against an aggressive player, let him raise and call his raises, unless you have reason to believe that your pair is beat. Again, the flop will give you an indication as to the strength of your hand.
One flaw many players have in Low Limit Hold'em games is that they refuse to fold big pairs and get married to the hand. They wait all day to get AA or KK and when they do they refuse to lay the hand down even with an A on the board and a heavy round of betting. Don't fall into this trap. No one will think badly of you in folding. Its known as a "great lay down". Remember Big Pairs are only profitable if you play them well.
Remember that from time to time your KK will come up against AA- your play should still be the same and where all cards on the flop are less that your pair, raise the pot. Be careful playing big pairs post flop if there are over cards on the board. Lets assume that you get a pair of tens. This is a good hand pre flop but beware that it is easily beaten. If the flop comes 4-5-2 then you are in very good shape as you have 2 over cards. However if the flop reads A-Q-8 then you will not be sure where you are. You should still go ahead and make a bet just to see where you are. If you are re-raised then you are likely behind. Be sure to know your opponents. Is the player who re-raised you aggressive? Could he be on a draw or better yet nothing? Paying attention to the table is something that low limit players don't do enough of. As such they don't pick up on the many online tells that there are.
The key to playing big pairs is to bet and raise if you have 2 over cards. If you don't have over cards see where you are in the hand and put in a raise and fold if you think that you are behind.
Don't get married to your big pairs. AA, KK, QQ and JJ are all big hands but they are only a pair and right at the bottom of the scale in terms of the ranking of poker hands.
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