How to play mid pocket pairs Pre flop? - Live Low-stakes No Limit Poker Forum

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How to play mid pocket pairs Pre flop?

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09-23-2018 , 09:42 AM

Paolo C

enthusiast

Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 64

I know this is probably an easy question but I’m still learning.

NL 2/3 100-500. 10 players.

Hand 1

Hero dealt Pocket 9s UTG. My stack size is 275.

Hero?

Hand 2

Similar conditions as Hand 1. Hero dealt pocket 8s in BB. UTG +1 raises to 10 which is a slightly low open bet for the table. 4 callers.

Hero?

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09-23-2018 , 10:07 AM

stlows

journeyman

Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 224

Open 10 (adjust for table but 10 is standard open).

Easy set mine. Call. x/r flop if you hit set. x/f if you dont. Print

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09-23-2018 , 10:19 AM

Paolo C

enthusiast

Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 64

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlows

Open 10 (adjust for table but 10 is standard open).

Easy set mine. Call. x/r flop if you hit set. x/f if you dont. Print

Thanks. Let’s say in Hand 1 I bet 10 (or standard in this game which is more like 15), how do I respond to a 3-bet?

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09-23-2018 , 10:26 AM

MikeStarr

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 7,962

I would never ever open to $10 in a 2/3 game. I don't care what hand or what position. Its too small.

#1...I limp UTG
#2....call the $10

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09-23-2018 , 10:38 AM

stlows

journeyman

Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 224

Thought it was 1/2. I dont play 2/3 but standard open would be likr 15 i guess?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paolo C

Thanks. Let’s say in Hand 1 I bet 10 (or standard in this game which is more like 15), how do I respond to a 3-bet?

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09-23-2018 , 10:46 AM

Garick

Oberbiergenießer

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26,516

#1, depends on a lot of factors, most notably stack sizes and player profiles of the rest of the table, but generally open-raise to a normal open for the table and fold to a 3-bet. If called, depends so much on board, number of callers, etc. Will often be a bet-once (c-bet or delayed c-bet) and look for a cheap showdown if called, and will often be a c/f post.

#2 is an easy call to set-mine.

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09-23-2018 , 10:49 AM

MikeStarr

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 7,962

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garick

#1, depends on a lot of factors, most notably stack sizes and player profiles of the rest of the table, but generally open-raise to a normal open for the table and fold to a 3-bet. If called, depends so much on board, number of callers, etc. Will often be a bet-once (c-bet or delayed c-bet) and look for a cheap showdown if called, and will often be a c/f post.

#2 is an easy call to set-mine.

This is exactly why limping is better IMO at these stakes. When I limp I will stack a big pair when I call a raise and hit a set. You will fold preflop to a big pair and never see the flop.

If nobody raises, we play poker...but we play with a smaller pot while OOP.

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09-23-2018 , 10:54 AM

Garick

Oberbiergenießer

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26,516

Depends on the table. I will sometimes open limp a PP in EP if it's a table we can get lots in post with a set, or if it is 3-bet happy. At what is now an average table, though, 99 has too much value played straightforwardly to waste it on OOP set-mining.

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09-23-2018 , 11:05 AM

MikeStarr

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 7,962

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garick

I dont think we are wasting it set mining. I just want to play a smaller pot when this far OOP. You're likely to get 2-4 calls unless you make an oversized raise and when you get 2 overcards on the flop, you cant really Cbet, because youre going to be out flopped almost every time.

Once you check, you've lost the hand whether you are behind or not.

Its just not a hand you are going to win a big pot with from this position hardly ever (without a set) so you are better off playing a small pot. If you do happen to hit a set, your odds are much higher of winning a huge pot if you called a raise and weren't the raiser yourself.

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09-23-2018 , 05:13 PM

#10

QuadJ

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 6,237

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paolo C

Hero dealt Pocket 9s UTG. My stack size is 275.

If stack sizes are mostly over $100 then a raise to $10-$12 is fine. If stacks are too short then fold is best. If villains are bad enough limp/call can also work but decent opponents will realize your often set mining and get away from over pairs.

If you get a bunch of callers then bet when you hit and check/fold when you miss is usually right. If you get 1/2 callers then you can look at the situation further.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paolo C

Similar conditions as Hand 1. Hero dealt pocket 8s in BB. UTG +1 raises to 10 which is a slightly low open bet for the table. 4 callers.

This would require an exceptional situation not to be a call. In this situation check/call or check/raise if you hit and check/fold if you miss unless the board is too wet, in which case just lead yourself.

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09-23-2018 , 08:33 PM

#11

Mat the Gambler

adept

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,170

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paolo C

Thanks. Let’s say in Hand 1 I bet 10 (or standard in this game which is more like 15), how do I respond to a 3-bet?

Depends on how you estimate villains 3B%. If it's the sort of villain who only ever 3-bets monsters, call because you likely stack him if you flop a set. If you're against a good player, a lot depends upon the size of the 3bet. If it's small enough, you can still set mine. If it's too big to set mine, you probably have to fold, although some percentage of the time you should 4-bet shove. Maybe 10-20%.

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