Poker Tips for Small Pocket Pairs

Small Pocket Pairs

As a rule, it is safer not to play these pocket pairs—pairs of 8 or lower. This is because they can be easily beaten by higher-ranked pairs. The lower the pair is, the more likely there is a superior pair out there. But there are situations when you can play them.

Aggression

When playing short-handed or in a tournament, you can and should be more aggressive. You still won't raise UTG with a 7 pair, but you can call. You will not call if there has been a re-raise before you. Nor if you called a raise and someone after you re-raises it, you will not call either. The only exception is if the pot odds are very attractive.

Position

Position is a key when deciding whether or not to play small pairs. If you are large-stacked and it's a full table, you don't have to play 8's or lower. But if you are short-stacked or in a tournament, you need to play these hands more often. You should still consider table position, of course. The later you are at the table, the lower the pairs you can play.

Tells

It is important to be able to read your opponents when playing with marginal hands. If a high card like an ace shows up on the flop, you have to guess if they have an ace too. You should be getting ready to go if they have folded a lot of hands recently and suddenly trick you into a check-raise. Even if they don't come out betting strongly, it could be a slow play.

Board, Set and Trips

Small starting pairs have a better chance of winning if the board is a rainbow and everyone is just limping around. If they've all limped and the turn gives you a set, that's great. But if the board has two or more suited or sequenced cards, there may very well be a flush or straight there. Generally, if the board looks dangerous and you don't make a set, it is usually wiser to fold a small pair. Note that set and a trip are two different hands that make a three of a kind. A set is a pocket pair plus a third card on the board. A trip is one of two hole cards plus a pair on the board. Of course, a set is better since everyone "owns" the pair in a trip.

Situations

This is not always the case though. For example, you may hold huge stacks of chips and a loss wouldn't threaten you. Then you could gamble on that small pair.

Another is if your opponent is a known loose player who will raise with any half-decent hand. Play their aggressive game to put your message across. Raise and make them think the last card helped you. They may have nothing or they may have a real hand. If they re-raise, fold

Also, if someone in late position or on the button is making the bet, remember that these folks play looser than usual. It is more permissible to go late in the game against them, especially if it's heads up. There's always the chance they are bluffing too.

If you are heads up and you out-stack the other player, even a meager pair can win. Bluff them with the size of their chips. Of course, it can turn around and they go all-in at your bluff. But that's poker!