How to Play Pocket Pairs (Poker)
Pocket Pairs are every low limit players love. Players new to the game fall into many traps (all part of the learning curve), but the most common scenario is placing more value on small pairs and suited cards than they really should. As a result, players new to the game continually overplay these cards and get involved in pots that they should have let go at the flop or pre flop. However, even the best player will be tempted as things hot up and will be more prone to play pairs and suited cards.
You always hear poker pros talking about the math of the game and throwing statistics around, but until you actually understand the math, the justification for letting go of cards will likely not make much sense. Let's start with small pairs, they look attractive for three reasons. First, well you already have a pair, second you might not have to improve to win the hand and third, you could hit a set on the flop. Sounds like three very good reasons and as we know, new players always look for a reason to get involved in a hand, especially in low limit Hold'em. The fact of the matter is that there are many variables that should contribute to your decision to play a hand at all and how long you stay in the pot. Let's throw in some math.
Let's say you hold 3 (clubs) 3 (spades) and you are up against AK (os). Pre-flop you are the favorite, a 52% favorite in fact, so you should play the hand. Now let's add another player into the fray. This player holds KJ (os). Now your pair of 3's is only a 29% favorite to win the hand. Imagine another player holds a pair of 5's in the same hand. Your small pair will now be reduced to a 15% dog. So whilst the untrained eye may not factor in the number of players in the hand, the pro would see that there are 5 players in the pot and dump the hand (unless of course he can try to hit his/her set on a cheap flop).
In actual fact, playing the hand above with three other hands against your small pair, you are actually less than 15% likely to hit your hand and you will often fold long before you actually hit your third three! Worse still, another player in the hand may hold one or all of your three's which reduces your chances to hitting one card! On occasion you may even hit your set and lose on the river as you were drawing dead all along.
In low limit Hold'em strategy it is uncommon for small pairs to hold up without improving, as there are usually lots of players in the pot. It is very likely that you will have to hit three of a kind to win the hand. Statistically you are 8-1 to hit your set. The trick with small pairs is not to get involved in large pots pre-flop. Get in cheap, if you hit your set (hopefully) you will likely win a big pot. If you miss on the flop, fold, it is no disgrace.
You only really want to play small pairs when you are sure that you can get to see a flop for only one bet. Ideally, you want to be in late position where one or more have limped into the pot.
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