Low Pocket Pairs

Piper Tim · #1 07-02-2005, 08:28 PM

My understanding from SSHE is that low pocket pairs should be played from EP against a raise in a loose game because if you make a set you stand a good chance of taking down a large pot (Am I misinterpreting this?). So, if you don't hit your set, what do you do? Check-fold?

This hand got me thinking about low pairs. I wanted to throw it away when raised preflop. But, I had just reread SSHE and that section stuck out.

The table was loose and I had seen a lot of junk hands getting played. MP1 was one of the more conservative players at the table. I hadn't seen a lot of aggression, no preflop raises, albeit I had only been at the table a little while. So, I put MP1 on a couple of overcards or high pair.

I planned to check-fold if the flop missed. Should I have played it in the first place?

Party Poker 0.5/1 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, Hero calls, UTG+2 raises, MP1 calls, 4 folds, SB calls, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (9 SB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG+2 checks, MP1 bets, SB folds, Hero raises, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls.

Turn: (7.50 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls.

River: (10.50 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls.

Final Pot: 12.50 BB

no1super2001 · #2 07-02-2005, 08:46 PM

I think this line is good. You would very rarely cold call, if ever, with this hand. Since you already have money in the pot, I call 1 bet back to me with 4 other players in the pot.

The rest of the hand was played with proper aggression to both build the pot and protect your hand. Unfortunately, the board took on a bit of a draw favorable complexion by the river. You win far more the 20% of these hands, so betting each street seems the only way to play it.

And yes, if I miss the set => mimo (muck it move on)

Bodhi · #3 07-02-2005, 09:39 PM

You played this perfectly. You should be limping with any pocket-pair in any position at party .5/1.

Disconnected · #4 07-02-2005, 09:43 PM

You don't really like being raised, so the tighter and more aggressive the table is, you would tend to not play the lower pocket pairs UTG (or first in EP). They play best HU or very multi-way. With your table read here, I think it's fine to limp it. Regardless, when you put a bet in pre-flop, you should call a single raise back to you, even if the original limp was a mistake.

Then, the other part of your question, you would be checking in EP when the flop misses. Likely, you'll fold, but you can't say that for 100% sure.