I got a question about how to handle pocket pairs. Everywhere I read I hear that you need to limp your pocket pair as cheaply as possible because you can flop a set and get rich xD
But my question is why don't call if someone raises? If someone raises he is likely to have good cards. So if you flop your set you can get more money out of him. If you don't flop a set you can simply fold.
I got a question about how to handle pocket pairs. Everywhere I read I hear that you need to limp your pocket pair as cheaply as possible because you can flop a set and get rich xD
But my question is why don't call if someone raises? If someone raises he is likely to have good cards. So if you flop your set you can get more money out of him. If you don't flop a set you can simply fold.
Most people will call raises pre flop with a lot of pocket pairs, providing they are against one opponent and have position on him. As if the opponent has already but in a PFR they are more likely to bet the flop also, which means more winnings.
The ratio of the bet size to the effective stack is an important consideration when calling raises preflop with PP's. Personally, I like a 20x stack to bet ratio. In other words, if the bet is $0.50, I want the effective stacks to bet at least $10. The high ratio helps to compensate for the times you hit your set and DON'T get paid off.
Of course, if you are good enough (or your villain bad enough) that you believe you can win unimproved, then you can call with smaller stacks. Keep in mind though, for most players, calling with a PP and continuing without a set is pure spew.
you have to learn how to win when you dont flop a set. and the easist time is when your opponent doesnt have a big pair.
it is hard to stack someone when you hit your set even if he had a big pair as the board kills your action on that so many times.
I see the just limping in with small pairs but I also like to use the Hellmuth theory on pocket pairs because a. it helps to balance your range and b. by raising preflop in position you can cbet and often take down the pot unimproved in a heads up or 3 way pot and c. that by raising preflop a lot of players will put you on big cards so if you hit your set you can stack opponents more often that expect you to have overcards with maybe a draw. This is only in position and against limpers or in an unopened pot that I do this mind you but it has definetly added soemthing to my game
