[Ace_Ren]

From Winning Low Limit Hold'em by Lee Jones:

Assuming no raises in front of you -

Early Position:
Raise with AA-JJ
Call with TT-77

Middle Position:
Raise with AA-88
Call with 77-55
If 4 or more callers - call with 44-22

Late position - same as middle in this regard.


Is that right? Who knows, but that's the recommendation from a generally well respected book. Basically, if he's saying raise, then you've got a pair that he thinks will hold up. If he says to call, then you are drawing for that set.

Even what I just said is very much an overgeneralization. In late position, if there's 5 callers (for example), don't bother raising with 88, it's a drawing hand now.

So, a few factors need to be taken in.
Hand rank - with JJ+ almost always being considered for value on its own

# of opponents - more opponents means that you will need a better hand to win, forcing many more pairs to become drawing pairs up to QQ at times (although I'd still raise to try to limit the field of opponents and turn it back into a made pair).

Position - The knowledge you gain from being in late position will often tell you that your pair is indeed good on the flop. Even down to 66 or 55 these pairs can be played as made pairs if you're in late position with few or no callers.