Quote:
Originally Posted by max3602
As a player with limited experience, I tend to avoid overplaying small pocket pairs, so I usually just call with them instead of making a 3-bet.
I came across a recommendation somewhere suggesting to play small pocket pairs and suited connectors if the effective stack is more than my call multiplied by 20.
Do you think this is too conservative of a strategy?
Unfortunately, at the moment, if you call indiscriminately with pockets, relying only on a set and the call-20 rule, then it will only pay off at the lowest limits.
To effectively play for a set value, you need to take into account several factors that will greatly influence your EV.
Availability of multi-pot.
If before you there was not only a raise but also several calls, then the chances that someone will catch the flop and pay you for your strong hand increase.
Tight/nitty open raiser.
If the raising player has a very narrow range in a given position, then he will be much more likely to have a made and strong hand such as QQ/KK/AA on the flop and will be more likely to be willing to call you.
Availability of position.
If you play in position post-flop (for example, you are sitting on BTN), then it will be easier for you to control the course of the hand and you will be able to take part of the pots without a strong hand.
Playing against an opponent with faces you understand.
In this case, you can build a game plan that will include the calculation of hitting a strong hand and the option of exploiting the player with a weaker hand. For example, this will be beneficial against an opponent who tends to give up on a float or has over-folded streets.
The strength of your pocket pair.
Whatever one may say, it will be much easier to play pocket pair 99 profitably than pair 22, because you can win more often at showdown without improving post-flop. In addition, the lower your pocket pair, the more often you will find yourself in cooler situations by fielding post-flop against a stronger set.
No aggressive squeezers after you.
If there is a player behind you who tends to make big squeezes with a wide range, then trying to set mine will simply be a waste of money, because often you will have to give up preflop.
The presence of passive fish after you.
If, instead of aggressive players, there are passive fish behind you, then with a high degree of probability, after your call, they will also enter the pot, which will increase the profitability of your game.
Remember that you not only need to have enough money in your opponent's stack but also a certain plan for the hand that will allow you to increase your mathematical expectation. You either have to be able to win big when you hit a set, or you have to be able not to lose all the pots with an unimproved hand. If you're unsure, it's best to avoid calling and fold your pocket pair preflop.