After years of play, the masters of the most popular poker game
in the world, Texas Holdem, have honed their skills at bluffing,
strategy, slow playing and reading other players. But the one thing
it doesn’t take an expert to know is that the pocket cards
in Holdem hold all the power.
This is the period of the game in which the most important decisions
are made. You have to evaluate position; whether the game is loose
or tight; the skill level of your opponents; and the number of players
who have already called. All of these components, along with those
two cards face down in front of you, will determine whether you
get in or get out.
Since five of the seven cards dealt in Holdem are community cards,
the game is all about what you have in the hole, not all about chasing
pairs. The reason is, if you improve, your adversary usually may
too. If you don’t consistently begin with higher cards than
your adversaries, no matter how many years you’ve put in at
the tables, you will not come out a winner.
If you draw pocket pairs, where odds run 16-1, consider yourself
lucky, and in good position to grab the pot. But you still have
to know how to play them correctly, whether you’re sitting
with a pair or deuces or a monster pair of aces.
High Pairs
Pocket Aces - There is a large advantage with this pair. You have
a huge advantage with this pair, and the first thing that should
go across your mind is maximum profit. However, don’t get
greedy and scare away the entire table away. You want at least two
to three callers left to pluck before the flop. Anymore callers
than that and something strange might occur by the time the river
comes up. In other words, a big pair plays well against a five-player
table, However loses steam to a 10-player table.
Second to aces, of course, are pocket kings, which are almost as
powerful. Your main concern here is letting in drawing hands with
a suited A-X. You’re still coming from a strong position because
an ace will flop only once every eight hands.
A pair of queens is nervous time. You have the confidence of a
monster hand, But the trepidation of getting hit with a king or
ace overcard, a card that opponents may more than likely play. Jacks
can be played like queens, hitting the table with a big raise, betting
on the flop, then hoping everyone folds.
Low Pairs
It is important to understand the value of small pocket pairs.
These hands fall under the category of playing well with very few
(heads-up) or several (6 or more) other players. Once you do decide
to play a small pair, your ultimate goal is to flop three-of-a-kind,
also known as a set. If you have 5-5 and the flop doesn’t
produce the third 5, begin thinking of an exit strategy. So, you
need to think economy class when getting to the flop, playing your
small pair as cheaply as possible. The cost to see the flop with
a small pair should be no more than a single blind bet. And since
it’s rare that a set will be beaten by a higher set, having
two’s in your pocket is only slightly worse than a set of
nine’s. As with any hand, your position makes a difference
on how to play a low pair as well. Since they’re not solid
raise material, early position hurts. Middle is OK in a loose game
and, if you’re aggressive, a raise if you’re near the
button.
The most important advice when playing pocket pairs? "Never
marry small pocket pairs." This means you must be ready to
fold if you do not make a set on the flop.
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