How open with pocket pairs? - Live Low-stakes No Limit Poker Forum

Two Plus Two Forums Poker Strategy Live No-Limit Hold’em Cash

How open with pocket pairs?

Post Reply Subscribe

...

02-05-2017 , 11:05 PM

PokerGeekboy

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 32

I'm interested in knowing what the poker community deems as optimal strategy when playing pocket pairs pre flop.

Situation 1: At a weak relatively loose passive table, is there any merit in limping with low and mid pairs from early position (utg, utg+1 and utg+2?) Or should you always raise or fold when opening the action with all pocket pairs?

Situation 2: Open raising first in with small pairs in late position.... I find small pocket pairs don't play so well in this spot because there are always over cards to them on the flop.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

Quote

02-05-2017 , 11:09 PM

Garick

Oberbiergenießer

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26,513

Yes, at a loose passive table limping to set mine can be fine.

In late position, definitely open raise. Even if there are over cards, you have position, and if they hit an overcard when you hit a set, kaching!

Quote

02-05-2017 , 11:13 PM

ChippuhTss

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 427

Tournaments or cash games?

In a weak passive cash game I'd be inclined to limp low pairs and call a raise. Always open raising in late position.

In tournaments it's difficult to say considering stack sizes, blinds, bubble etc

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote

02-05-2017 , 11:28 PM

PokerGeekboy

newbie

Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 32

Thanks. Cash games. 100bb effective stacks.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

Quote

02-05-2017 , 11:34 PM

QuadJ

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 6,231

1. Yes it can but it takes a specific situation. The table has to be very passive, pretty bad and short enough that you can stack people in limped pots.

2. Raise pre and mix between c-betting flop and just giving up when you don't hit. This is a situation where you need some balance. There are also situations where it just isn't worth playing, usually when somebody behind you is itching to raise/shove.

Quote

02-05-2017 , 11:35 PM

JayKon

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,444

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garick

+1 Only adding that it is position, villain and table dependent.

Quote

02-06-2017 , 12:38 AM

soxfan43

journeyman

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 219

Limping to set mine is common practice at llsnl but it is important to consider your implied odds before calling a raise to set mine. I like to have around 18-20 times the bet I'm calling in my opponent's stack. That means I avoid calling a raise to set mine on a short stack or against a short stack.

In a tight game, I prefer to open raise all pocket pairs from any position. If the game is looser, I lean more towards limping in early and middle position and still raising in late position.

Quote

02-06-2017 , 10:44 AM

MIB211

veteran

Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3,010

My standard in classic loose passive cash games with 100-200 bbs stacks is to limp small pocket pairs from all early and middle positions, and call most raises but not a 3-bet. Will also fold to a short stack raise.

Quote

Post Reply Subscribe

...