playing pocket pairs

[ChrisParadise]

in tournaments that is, probably my biggest weakness. even it late position i often either shove with 88 99 sometimes even 1010 instead of playin it out. ill often fold 88 77 66 out of pure cowardice. 99 i fold to a big raise preflop. jacks and higher i feel i play ok

any have strats or advice? i just dont feel comfortable with these hands and feel like im missing some chances to pick up a good pot

 

[TheChief+]

im no superstar but the way i see it, you have to play your 'situations' just as much as your hands. if you're against a weak player heads-up, push him around with your hand pre and post flop. if you're in a 3-way pot, flat call and try to hit a set. if you're holding a monster, maybe you try and limp and if someone raises, come over the top, etc. etc.

also i would say there's no point just shoving all in pre-flop unless you're short stacked. you can easily be outdrawn by a lot of hands if you're going all in with anything weaker than QQ. i remember reading some poker literature years ago about the importance of protecting your stack and not just shoving with a middle-semi monster pair pre-flop unless you know 99% where you stand against your opponents.

 

[OnWisconsin]

yeah, i agree. i used to always try and play small pairs no matter what, but basically realized i was blowing too much of my stack and not hitting the flop often enough. as long as i have a decent stack going and am in no immediate danger of blinding out, i'll fold pocket 6s and below all day long in an early position. if i'm in late position and it's unraised, it depends on who's on my left. if i'm confident my opponents are only trying to play strong hands, i'll put in a raise. if there's a calling station on my left, i'll limp and hope to flop a set. if i'm severely short stacked, i'll shove. if i'm early, i'd fold and wait for over cards before shoving.

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-articles/making-tough-decisions-easier-3680920

http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-articles/calling-raises-with-small-pocket-pairs-3886877

Neither 1 of these are actually about opening pairs in tournys but i found them both while looking for the article on pairs i cant find...lol Some really good info in them...

 

[ChrisParadise]

im no superstar but the way i see it, you have to play your 'situations' just as much as your hands. if you're against a weak player heads-up, push him around with your hand pre and post flop. if you're in a 3-way pot, flat call and try to hit a set. if you're holding a monster, maybe you try and limp and if someone raises, come over the top, etc. etc.

also i would say there's no point just shoving all in pre-flop unless you're short stacked. you can easily be outdrawn by a lot of hands if you're going all in with anything weaker than QQ. i remember reading some poker literature years ago about the importance of protecting your stack and not just shoving with a middle-semi monster pair pre-flop unless you know 99% where you stand against your opponents.

yeah thats what im tryin to avoid, shoving so often cause i know thats a flaw in my game. plus i prefer to semi slow play and build a pot when i do have qq+...but then i start to seei a flush ar straight on the turn and i breakdown and shove heh.

 

[ChrisParadise]

http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-articles/making-tough-decisions-easier-3680920

http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-articles/calling-raises-with-small-pocket-pairs-3886877

Neither 1 of these are actually about opening pairs in tournys but i found them both while looking for the article on pairs i cant find...lol Some really good info in them...

that is good info. i checked that forum out a couple months ago when i first started playin again and it was all greek to me, im glad to revisit now that it makes more sense

my problem is like when i open with 10's and he flop is q84...every fuckin time i try to bet it ill get reraised and punk out and fold

or when i have jj and i see kq9 with 2 suited...i dont have a clue how to bet these hands.ill just check or flatcall and showdown with some guy with 89 and be pised off

 

[OnWisconsin]

personally, i think the C-bet is one of the most powerful tools in the game. just make sure the bet makes sense and shows confidence. don't be a minimum bettor. if you raised pre flop with pocket 10s and a queen spikes, don't be afraid to lead out, but make sure you show strength -- i don't know how many pots i've stolen -- or seen stolen -- because the preflop rasier raised the minimum and then bet minimum on the flop. if you make a decent C-bet and you get played back at, you're beat (or the guy isn't scared to risk his stack on a bluff). it's better than check calling and letting the semi bluff catch up to you.

all that being said, i'm getting killed today.

 

[ChrisParadise]

yeah you're right. i been playin single table for the past week or two though and its damn hard to bet with nothin when you got 1500 chips and you know these clowns will shove with a2 or k6. deep in a mtt its easier for me to play when i have chips to play with