How to play small pocket pairs and sets

Introduction

In this article

• Implied odds before the flop
  
• Balancing after you hit a set
• How to play unimproved
  

Pocket pairs are very popular hands to play in NL Hold'em, but they can lead to serious trouble. How should you play before the flop, and how should you react when you hit a set?

How can you extract the most value when you hit three-of-a-kind on the flop? You will find the answer in this article.

Which pocket pairs will be discussed?

There are 13 possible pocket pairs (22-AA). Strong pocket pairs (QQ-AA) are usually strong enough for an all-in before the flop and often give you an overpair after the flop. This will not be the focus of this article.

Playing JJ/TT is usually a borderline decision. You have a pretty strong hand before the flop on the one hand, but will have difficulty playing it after the flop if you don't hit a set on the other. A number of variables influence your decision to play passively or aggressively. Still, JJ and TT should generally be considered as strong hands and will not be the subject of this article, either.

We will instead focus on how to play 22-99. These hands have potential when you hit a set on the flop (though you may have trouble staying ahead on all three streets), but have very little showdown when you don't.

How do I rank small pocket pairs?

The first question you will ask yourself is probably: Should I play 22 and 99 the same way?

There is, of course, a difference between 22 and 99 (and all the other pairs in between). 99 obviously has more equity, which makes it a better pre-flop hand, since it beats significantly more hands than 22 on average.

There are also post-flop differences. In most cases, the deal will be sealed once you hit a set. But keep in mind than you can beat a lower set with 99, and are more likely to lose to a bigger set with 22.

If you don't improve, the rest of your hand will depend on knowing what your hand is worth and where you stand with it:

• 99 will occasionally give you an overpair
• 99 beats smaller pocket pairs
• 99 beats a number of drawing hands that have hit something (such as A6o on a 6xx flop, or 56s on a 5xx flop)

Don't ever assume the hand is over on the flop. You obviously try to extract value when you hit a set, but you can't simply contibet/fold when you don't. 99-66 can give you the best hand often enough, but you will have a hard time winning a showdown with less.

What does all this mean for your game? You won't notice too many changes in your pre-flop play. This is simply because pocket pairs are very playable in No Limit and a set will put you ahead of most opponents. Still, you should be aware of how various pocket pairs differ in strength and that 99 has a better chance of winning without hitting than a lower pocket pair.

How should you play before the flop?

You should usually have an easy decision when you are first in: raise. If no one else has shown aggression, open raising won't be a mistake. You will have initiative after the flop if you get called and will be able to win the pot with a contibet fairly often. You will hit your set 1 in 8.5 times and have a very strong hand.

Playing a small pocket pair is not so easy in a full-ring game. You do, of course, have the option of raising from early position, but could also simply limp, which is not an option in short-handed play. This then becomes a question of balancing.

Your opponents will know what you have if you limp/call every pocket pair. You will also find yourself playing out of position more often. Raising first in should be standard from MP onward.

Any information you have on your opponents becomes very advantageous once limpers enter the hand. Raising will generally be your best option.

Limping leaves you with a number of disadvantages:

• You can't win the hand without seeing the flop.
• You won't be the pre-flop aggressor and won't be able to win with a contibet.
• You can only stay in the hand if you hit a set, since you can assume you will be facing at least 2 opponents after having limped (the BB will usually check). You won't have much equity with a small pocket pair if you miss.
• An opponent might raise behind you. You can only play for set value and can't be certain that you have the right implied odds, since your play gives your hand away.

Once again, full-ring games are another matter. You will usually have the right implied odds and can afford to look at more flops. A raise is also more likely to get cold called.

Your fold equity will decrease as the number of players behind you increases. You will also only be looking to get involved in large pots when you do hit a set.

Overlimping is an option in full-ring games, even though the disadvantages listed above also apply.

You will often be facing a raise in front of you and wondering how you should play your pocket pair.

This is a pretty easy decision in full-ring play: The Call20 rule states that you can call for set value when the aggressor and you both have 20 * raise in your stacks (this guarantees you the right implied odds), even though you won't be able to stack your opponent every time you hit a set.

This is generally the case. A 4 BB raise with 100 BB stacks would put you in a Call25 situation, so to say.

You might even 3-bet in some situations, but this would require a few good reads on your opponent.

Calling for set value becomes problematic when it comes to short-handed play. You could theoretically follow the Call20 rule, but it's important to pay more attention to your position and opponent.

Here are a few differences between full-ring and short-handed play to keep in mind:

• An early position raise in a FR game is usually a sign of a strong hand. This gives you higher implied odds when you hit a set, since an opponent will be more willing to pay you off. An early position raise SH can be made with a wider range of hands, which means your implied odds decrease.

• The blinds will be attacked more often in SH games, since the CO/BU is often able to act first in. Your implied odds with a small pocket pair sink, since the steal range from the CO/BU contains so many hands. You will also be out of position after the flop, which will make it even harder to maximize your value.

• You will find yourself in multiway pots more often in FR games. Sometimes you will hit a set in a 4-handed pot and get paid off by several opponents. You will find yourself heads up more often in SH games. This reduces your implied odds, as well.

• Starting hands are stronger in SH games, since there are fewer players in the hand. 77 will give you the best hand more often than in a 10max game.

This is not just a general rule; it is especially important when you have a strong hand and want to extract value.

Your opponent and his position are also important. You have higher implied odds against a tight player who raised UTG than against a loose player stealing from the BU.

When facing a raise in front of you with a small pocket pair, you have three options:

• Fold
• Call
• 3-bet

You can consider folding a very weak pocket pair (22-33) for the following reasons:

• You can't generate fold equity with a 3-bet
• You give yourself poor implied odds if you call
• You will have to play out of position
• You will have to play heads up

Still, you're better off calling or 3-betting, even as a bluff, when in doubt.

If you call, you will be in one of two possible situations on the flop. Either you will have hit your set and want to extract as much value as you can, or you will have missed and will either fold, or, if you have the right reads, make a move (bluff or float).

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (5 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BB ($23.03) (30/11/0.6/28/132) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
SB ($16.72)
BU ($31.59)
MP ($52.97) (16/12/1.9/22/341) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero ($49.07)

Pre-flop: Hero is CO with 6, 6
MP raises to $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 2 folds, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.10) Q, T, K (3 players)
BB bets $2.25, MP calls $2.25, Hero folds.

Turn: ($7.60) 4 (2 players)
BB bets $5.00, MP folds.

Final Pot: $12.60.

MP is a relatively tight player and raises first in. You call for set value with pocket sixes.

You can make a profitable call, since your opponent could have a very strong hand, which gives you good implied odds. You will also be in position after the flop and able to play your hand better.

You have the blinds behind you. Either one could be tempted to call with decent pot odds. The BB is the most likely candidate.

MP is not likely to call with a weaker hand if you 3-bet, which means 3-betting would be bluffing in this situation. You would also have to fold to a 4-bet. All in all, calling is a pretty good option.

You miss the flop and are in a 3-handed pot. Either of your opponents could have easily hit the board, so you fold.

When should you call a raise with a small pocket pair?

• You can't generate sufficient fold equity with a 3-bet.
• You give yourself good implied odds if you hit.
• You will be playing in position.
• Loose players behind might be tempted to enter the hand, which gives you even higher implied odds.

3-betting would, of course, be the most aggressive approach. It's one way to take down the pot before the flop. This would be a decent option against loose players, since they like to raise first in, but are more cautious about calling a 3-bet or 4-betting with a marginal hand. Loose players have a very wide first in open raising range, which is usually enough to give you the right implied odds.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (5 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BB ($23.52)
BU ($22.50) (32/16/3.7/22/561) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
CO ($30.88)
MP($13.56)
Hero is SB ($27.07)

Pre-flop: Hero is SB with 5, 5
2 folds, BU raises to $1.00, Hero raises $3.25, 1 fold, BU calls $3.25.

Flop: ($6.75) T, 2, 2 (2 players)
Hero bets 5.00$, BU folds

You're in the SB with pocket fives, which is pretty strong in this situation. You don't want to fold to the BU's steal. You could consider calling, but your opponent is pretty loose. You probably won't get much out of him after the flop if you hit your set. You will also be playing out of position.

His wide range presents an opportunity to take down the pot before the flop with a 3-bet. You can even contibet on the flop if you get called. If the BU 4-bets, you will have to fold.

When should you 3-bet with a small pocket pair?

• You see a chance to take down the pot before the flop.
• You see a chance to take down the pot with a contibet on the flop.
• You don't want to make a move against your opponent, since you don't give yourself much fold equity, which makes a pre-flop call even less profitable.
• You don't give yourself good implied odds if you call.
• You will be playing out of position.

The following questions should then be asked:

• Is the opponent loose or tight?
• Do you have position (absolute and relative)?
• Can you generate fold equity with a 3-bet?
• Do you have sufficient implied odds if you call?
• Would folding be giving away value?

How should you react to a 3-bet after you raise first in?

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BB ($33.26)
BU ($22.40)
SB ($19.08)
CO ($54.37)
MP ($43.04)
Hero ($26.51)

Pre-flop: Hero is UTG with 3 , 3
Hero raises to $1.00, 2 folds, BU raises to $3.00, 2 folds, Hero…

A standard situation. You raise first in with a small pocket pair from early position. You want to win the pot pre-flop, or take it down with a contibet on the flop if you don't hit a set.

You aren't really taking any risks. You already know exactly what you will do on the flop. If you hit, you want to go all-in, if you miss, you fold as soon as your opponent refuses to give up his hand. 33 is a very weak pair; it can rarely win a showdown unimproved.

But then the BU (an unknown) 3-bets. As always, you can either:

• Fold
• Call
• 4-bet

4-bet/fold is a bold move against an unknown player. You can make this move with any two cards, but should be aware that you are making a pure bluff. You can occasionally 4-bet with AK/QQ, since you can call a push, but 33 will almost always put you way behind against a push.

The real question is whether or not you're in a good situation for a bluff. Your raise from UTG was re-raised by an unknown; there is no real reason to put the pedal to the metal. Your two remaining options: call or fold.

You obviously intend to stay on your hand if you hit. But what are your odds? You have to pay $2 to call. The BU has $22. If you call, you will have $6 in the pot, the BU will have $19 remaining. You can win the $4 in the pot + $19 = $25. Your odds are therefore 1:12.5. The odds of hitting on the flop are roughly 7.5:1.

This looks like a profitable call at first glance, but don't forget the Call20 rule. You won't be able to stack your opponent every time you hit a set.

You also have to ask yourself if you have sufficient implied odds:

• The pot odds are 1:12.5, not enough according to the Call20 rule.
• Your opponent is an unknown and can 3-bet from the BU with a wide range of hands.
• You aren't looking to make a move (like a bluff raise) against an unknown. You will rarely be able to win the pot unimproved.
• You will be playing the rest of the hand out of position. This will make it harder to extract value if you hit.
• You are last to act. No one behind could still enter the hand to give you better implied odds.

As you can see, you hardly have sufficient implied odds against the unknown. You will usually check/fold if unimproved on the flop and have to check/raise out of position if you do, since you hope to be all-in by the river. Considering the outlook, folding is probably the better alternative.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BB ($25.78)
BU ($56.33)
SB ($32.20)
CO ($16.45)
MP ($33.91)
Hero ($30.47)

Pre-flop: Hero is UTG with 5, 5
Hero raises to $1.00, 2 folds, BU calls $1.00, 1 fold, BB raises to $4.00, Hero…

Once again you raise first in with a small pocket pair from UTG. This time the BU only calls, which leads the BB to squeeze (3-bet after a cold call). Both opponents are unknowns.

Again, you can either call or fold. You can assume the BU will follow your lead if you call, since he would be getting very good odds and have position on you.

You're going to be sandwiched after the flop. You will have position on the 3-better, but will have to act before the BU. The pot odds aren't bad. If the BU is sure to call, you will be in good shape. But what if he folds?

You invest $3. The pot is already at $6. You would have $22 remaining in your stack, which means you could win a total of $28 (and 9:1 pot odds).

These odds aren't very impressive, but there are a few other reasons to call:

• 9:1 are the poorest possible odds. Things will look better if the BU stays in the hand.
• You might be able to stack two opponents in a multiway pot.
• The BB's raise against two opponents from a blind position is a sign of strength. He will be more likely to pay you off if you hit.
• You will have position on the 3-better, which makes it easier to extract value from him.

On the other hand, calling does have a few disadvantages:

• You can't be sure that the BU will call.
• You can't make a move in a 3-bet pot, so you will have to hit to win.
• The unknown's squeeze could be a bluff, which means your implied odds decrease.

It's a close call, but in the end you should make a tough lay down.

If you knew that the squeezer was tight and the BU loose, you could probably justify a call.

Any time an unknown 3-bets you, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have the right implied odds?
• Could others enter the hand behind you or are you last to act?
• Are you in a multiway pot or heads up?
• Can you follow the Call20 rule?
• How wide is your opponent's range? Will you be able to get him all in after the flop if you hit?
• Do you have position?

You should be able to make the right decision after going through the questions. The odds of getting your opponent all-in are higher in a 3-bet pot. Still, you must be able to go all-in fairly often when you hit, which is hard to predict against an unknown.

Folding to a 3-bet when out of position is no mistake. You can make a profitable call when you are in position and have the right reads on your opponent.

How should you play after the flop?

You will be in one of two situations after the flop: You will either have hit and be holding a very strong hand, or you will have missed and are probably looking at overcards on the board.

When you hit a set on the flop, you're pretty much bound to going all-in if possible. You will rarely lay down a set on the flop, no matter what kind of board you are looking at.

The following factors influence how you proceed to play your hand:

• Are you in a raised pot or a 3-bet pot?
• Who has the initiative, you or your opponent?
• Are you in or out of position?
• Are you heads up or in a multiway pot?
• Is the board draw heavy or drawless?
• Who is (are) your opponent(s)?
• How large are the stacks of the players involved in the hand?

Your goal is to go all-in with your set, but this is only going to happen when your opponent has a good hand, too.

Look at the pre-flop action. The main difference between a raised pot and a 3-bet pot is the size, with 3-bet pots naturally being quite a bit larger. You may be able to tone down the aggression, depending on whether or not a normal sized bet would create a large pot.

Hitting a set in a 3-bet pot is a best case scenario: this is the easiest situation for getting your opponent all-in. Aside from the large pot, your opponent is very likely to have a strong hand after having made/called a 3-bet.

Initiative is always an enormous factor. If you are the PFA, you can start off with a standard value bet or even a value raise if your opponent donks. You won't be giving away your hand, since you showed strength in the pre-flop action. Your opponent will expect you to contibet/semi-bluff after having missed the board and may be tempted to try taking down the pot himself.

Being the PFA allows you to continue with a direct bet. However, you are less likely to get paid off, since your opponent could either be on a drawing hand himself, or have completely missed and not feel like making a move against the PFA. Be careful not to give your hand away if your opponent is the PFA. A check/raise or raise in position could be enough to scare your opponent off of his hand.

Position is always a decisive factor in poker. When you are in position, you can wait and see how your opponent acts before you consider making a direct raise on the flop. When you are out of position, you usually have to check/raise on the flop in order to build up the pot and take the initiative on the turn. If you check/call and check again on the turn, your opponent will usually take the opportunity to check behind. You will then be playing for a small pot on the river; you can donk, but won't get more than a call.

You obviously prefer to hit a set in a multiway pot, since the pot will be larger and someone will be likely to have hit as well and be willing to pay you off.

A set in a multiway pot can be played aggressively; there are still hands out there that have outs against you. It's a matter of getting value and protecting your hand.

This is an important question to ask when deciding whether to play your hand passively or aggressively. You can consider taking it slow when your opponents could hardly have hit the board and are likely to fold to a bet. Slowplay can be the best choice at times, but betting to protect and build up the pot is almost never a mistake.

You also have to ask yourself if the board is draw heavy for the situation at hand. 4 5 7 isn't too scary heads up in a 3-bet pot, but you're much more likely to be facing a drawing hand in a single raise multiway pot. You shouldn't put your opponent on a drawing hand all too often when heads up.

When considering the best way to get your money in the middle, your opponent plays a key role. Is he a calling station? Can you bet on every street? Is he aggressive? Is he likely to 2nd barrel on the turn giving you the opportunity to check/raise?

Is he a good player who protects his strong hands, or a weak player who likes to bluff? You have to know your opponent in order to get him all-in.

Why are the stack sizes so important? There are two reasons: You can only win what your opponent has in his stack. Not only that, but your entire pre-flop strategy with a small pocket pair depends heavily on your implied odds.

All of these factors play into every decision. The best possible combination of these factors would be: Being the PFA in a 3-bet multiway pot, in position on a drawless board facing fully stacked calling stations. Unfortunately, you will probably never be so lucky, but that's what dreams are for.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
MP ($26.26)
CO ($28.11)
UTG ($53.61)
BB ($24.77) (28/12/0.4/28/181) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
SB ($22.30) (32/13/1.2/31/456) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero ($28.15)

Pre-flop: Hero is Button with 7 , 7
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB raises to $3.00, BB calls $3.00, Hero calls $3.00

Flop: ($9.00) 7, 2, 2 (3 players)
SB bets $3.50, BB calls $3.50, Hero calls $3.50

Turn: ($19.50) J (3 players)
SB bets $4.00, BB calls $4.00, Hero raises to $13.00

This hand couldn't play out much better. You make a standard pre-flop raise and can call the SB's 3-bet for set value after the BB's cold call.

You hit the flop perfectly and go through the checklist:

• Are you in a raised pot or a 3-bet pot?

  You are in a 3-bet pot, which is already rather large.

• Who was the PFA/who has initiative?

  You are not the PFA, which is not a problem in this case.

• Are you in or out of position?

  You are in position against both the SB and BB.

• Heads up or multiway pot?

  You can extract value from two opponents.

• Is the board draw heavy or drawless?

  The board is drawless (against your full house). The two s could even help you, since a flush (draw) would be more likely to stay in the hand.

• Who is/are your opponent(s)?

  You are facing two calling stations. They will probably stay in the hand and unlikely to show aggression themselves.

• Stack sizes

  Both opponents have a little less than 100 BB stacks.

Everything looks fine; there's not much you can do wrong. You just call on the flop, since there is no need to protect. You don't have to worry about building up the pot either, since it is already relatively large. There will be $20 in the pot after you call; raising could scare one/both of them out of the hand. This is a good situation to play your hand slow and hope one of them improves to 2nd best hand on the turn (by completing a flush draw, hitting AK...).

Another min bet comes on the turn, but this time you make a small re-raise. Your sole goal is to get at least one of your opponents all-in. You don't to worry about scaring them off anymore; if neither one has a decent hand now, you won't be getting paid off later. You should build up the pot on the turn so that you can go all-in on the river without having to make a pot size (or even over size) bet.

You could also consider just calling, since the pot is already fairly large. The advantage of raising, however, is the chance to get more money out of a draw on the turn.

Keep in mind that this was an ideal example hand and that you aren't likely to have such a hand any time soon. Let's take a look at another example of a similar situation, in which we change just two factors:

• The pre-flop action
• The board

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
MP ($26.26)
CO ($28.11)
UTG ($53.61)
BB ($24.77) (28/12/0.4/28/181) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
SB ($22.30) (32/13/1.2/31/456) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero ($28.15)

Pre-flop: Hero is Button with 7 , 7
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB calls $1.00, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.00) 7, 6, 8 (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks , Hero bets $2.50, SB calls $2.50, BB calls $2.50

Turn: ($10.50) J (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero...?

This is a similar pre-flop situation, only this time the SB calls instead of raising. The board is pretty dangerous and playing your hand right won't be easy, especially with two opponents in the hand.

Both opponents check to you and you make a 5/6 pot bet (you could bet the pot just as easily). Both opponents call.

A blank shows up on the turn. Neither draw completed and both opponents check to you again. Neither seems to have a hand that needs protecting, but this doesn't mean much coming from two calling stations.

Slowplay is out of the question. There is also no reason to think you might be behind. You need to protect your hand aggressively and cannot afford to give away a free card. Bet/call turn is the only sensible option.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
MP ($22.10)
CO ($76.35)
UTG ($33.08)
BB ($25.33)
SB ($27.72) (26/23/4.2/27/289) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero ($25.09)

Pre-flop: Hero is Button with 3 , 3
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB raises to $3.00, BB folds, Hero calls $2.00

Flop: ($6.50) 3, A, J (2 players)
SB bets $4.50, Hero calls $4.50

Turn: ($15.50) 2 (2 players)
SB bets $10.00, Hero raises to $17.59

You raise from the BU before the flop and get reraised by a very aggressive opponent in the SB. You call, since your opponent is likely to continue his aggression after the flop (he has tried to force opponents out of the pot with a 2nd barrel on the turn several times before). You also have position.

You hit your set on a drawless board. The ace is also good, since your opponent will often have an ace in such a situation.

You call his standard contibet. A raise would usually just force weaker hands out.

The turn card is pretty safe. Your opponent fires his 2nd barrel and you go all-in. This isn't for protection, by the way, since your opponent will rarely have two clubs.

Your goal is to get your opponent all-in. Your opponent pretty much has to call your push due to the stack sizes. You could, of course, also consider calling down. Either line is justifiable.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BU ($33.98)
MP ($44.33)
CO($13.56)
UTG ($22.23)
BB ($54.51)
Hero ($24.69)

Pre-flop: Hero is SB with 4 , 4
UTG raises to $1.00, 2 folds, BU calls $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold

Flop: ($3.35) 8 A 4 (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $3.00, BU folds, Hero raises to 10.00$, UTG calls $10.00

Turn: ($23.35) 6 (2 players)
Hero bet $13.69 (All-in), UTG folds

You're in the SB with pocket fours facing two unknowns. You are being offered decent odds before the flop and can call for set value.

You hit your set on the flop, but are out of position and first to act against two opponents on a two suited board. There is no need to donk, but you can certainly do so as long as you balance your lines and donk with other hands, as well.

UTG contibets and the BU folds. You check/raise.

This move is a pretty clear indication of the strength of your hand. This is also exactly when your position problem becomes clear. You check/raise to build up the pot and take the initiative going into the turn.

This hand could have taken an alternative course:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BU ($33.98)
MP ($44.33)
CO($13.56)
UTG ($22.23)
BB ($54.51)
Hero ($24.69)

Pre-flop: Hero is SB with 4 , 4
UTG raises to $1.00, 2 folds, BU calls $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold

Flop: ($3.35) 8 A 4 (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $3.00, BU folds, Hero calls $3.00

Turn: ($9.35) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks

River: ($9.35) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $6.00,…

Your opponent will check behind on the turn too often, leaving you no other choice than to donk on the river. You won't be able to make a large bet either, since there isn't that much in the pot. You also give away a free card to a possible flush draw.

You know that your opponent needs to have a strong hand, too, if he is going to go all-in. That is why it makes more sense to check raise the flop instead of hoping to check raise the turn, since this comes around much to seldom. 

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
MP ($21.32)
UTG ($32.91)
BB ($33.87)
SB ($25.00)
BU ($17.87)
Hero ($27.77)

Pre-flop: Hero is CO with 6 , 6
UTG raises to $1.00, MP calls $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold, SB calls $1.00, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($5.00) 6 K 2 (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG bets $3.00, MP calls $3.00, Hero raises to $14.00

Almost too good to be true. You call for set value before the flop and hit on a drawless board in a multiway pot. You are also in position.

Do you call or do you raise? The problem with calling is that it gives the SB and BB great odds to stay in the hand. There is no real need to protect, but you are facing 4 hands that could have outs against you. You're better off playing your hand straightforwardly.

An example: UTG has AA, MP calls with TT, SB has 34o and has the right odds to call. All in all, there are 8 cards that could ruin your day.

This is a very conservative way of looking at the hand; slowplaying would certainly not be a big mistake. Just be aware that several weak draws can be just as dangerous as a strong draw.

You raise in this example and would like to go all-in as soon as you can.

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
BB ($23.15)
UTG ($24.55)
MP ($71.81)
CO ($23.55) (40/22/3.9/35/132) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
BU ($22.12) (22/12/2.7/29/459) [VPIP/PFR/AF/WTS/Hands]
Hero ($26.09)

Pre-flop: Hero is SB with 2 , 2
2 folds, CO raises to $1.00, BU calls $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold

Flop: ($3.50) 5, 2, K (3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $3.00, BU raises to $7.50, Hero...

You hit your set out of position and check. The CO contibets and the BU raises. You can either: 3-bet with the intent of going all-in, or just call.

There are two basic reasons to raise: to protect your hand and to build up the pot.

You are looking at a drawless board and can assume that there aren't many outs against you. There's no need to continue building the pot up either, since a call from you and the CO would mean a $26 pot on the turn. You don't need to balance either, since this is a rare situation to be in and neither of your opponents seems to be particularly attentive to such fine detail.

Both opponents are very aggressive after the flop and you can assume that one of them will bet on the turn, giving you the opportunity to then push all-in.

A possible line for this hand would be:

• check/call flop
• check/raise all-in turn

As you can see, finding the right line is much more difficult when you are out of position and don't have the initiative. If you were the pre-flop aggressor, you can bet/bet/bet.

You will, of course, miss much more often than you hit. The odds of hitting a set are 8.5:1, which means it doesn't happen all that often.

The good news is you can win the pot without hitting (with a contibet, for example). You could also win the hand with a bluff. And remember, a middle pocket pair may still be the best hand on the flop, even if you don't improve.

Let's take a look at a few ways of dealing with a miss:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6 handed)

Stacks & Stats
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
UTG ($25)
BB ($25)
SB ($25) Hero ($25)

Pre-flop: Hero is Button with 8 , 8
UTG raises to $1.00 2 folds, Hero calls to $1.00, 2 folds

Flop: ($2.25) 3, 3, K (2 players)
UTG bets $1.50, Hero

We will base our discussion on this (or a similar) situation.

You can generally call for set value when you are in position with a small pocket pair. Since you don't open limp, you will usually be in a 3-bet pot or have the initiative after the flop when you are out of position. This will usually only happen when you defend your blind with a small pocket pair. We will focus our discussion on playing in position and conclude with a short look at playing out of position.

Take a look at the example above. You are in position and call with a small pocket pair. The flop leaves you heads up and unimproved. Then your opponent makes a standard contibet. What should you do?

Your three options are:

• Fold
• Call
• Raise

Folding would be the easiest decision. You called for set value; you didn't hit, so you give up your hand.

The decision to raise depends on your opponent. You will win the hand if he folds, but what are you going to do if he calls or 3-bets?

If you decide to call, you're guaranteed to be in the same position on the turn. If your opponent checks to you, will you check behind or bet? If he bets, will you fold, call again, or even raise?

As we said, you can keep it simple and fold a small pocket pair that doesn't hit on the flop. But you have to ask yourself if you might be throwing away the best hand.

What kind of opponent are you facing? Do you have any stats or reads? Do you have a pre-flop plan for your hand? You're probably up against a strong hand when a tight player raises from early position and can easily fold after not hitting the flop. When you see yourself behind and have little fold equity to bluff with, folding is usually the best choice.

But what should you do when facing a loose opponent? You might be ahead with your hand.

If you decide to raise, you have to ask yourself what you want to accomplish with your raise.

There are two basic reasons for raising: You want weaker hands to pay you off and get value for your hand, or you bluff to get a better hand to fold.

What does this mean against a tight UTG aggressor? You expect him to have a strong hand, so you can't raise for value (you see yourself behind). The question is, can you get him to lay down a hand like QQ or JJ? There is no point in raising if you can't generate sufficient fold equity.

If, on the other hand, you do think your opponent can lay down a strong hand, a bluff raise is a viable option.

Things get a bit more complicated when you are facing a loose opponent capable of raising with weaker hands before the flop. Note: You could theoretically 3-bet pre-flop against such an opponent, but we will stick to our example in which you call.

How will your opponent react to a raise? Would he call with a weaker hand, essentially allowing you to raise for value? If so, doesn't that also mean that you won't be able to bluff him off of a better hand?

If you think your opponent is likely to 2nd barrel, you are better off raising yourself. This serves two ends: You generate fold equity and might get your opponent to fold. And, if your opponent is bluffing, this stops him from firing one barrel after the other until you have to fold your hand. The big problem will be deciding how far you are willing to go with your hand, since you don't really know what range your opponent is on.

You should fold to a 3-bet, no matter what kind of opponent you are facing. If, however, your opponent calls, you will have to make a decision on the turn.

Once again, you have to try to put your opponent on a range when you reach the turn. If you are facing a loose player, you will have little fold equity after he bet/calls the flop and will be playing for a fairly large pot. You should refrain from betting again and try to get to the showdown as cheaply as possible.

Your third option is calling. This keeps you in the hand, but doesn't give your opponent the chance to fold. You're going to have to make another decision on the turn. This may not seem like a bad option, but keep in mind that you should always have a plan for the turn when you call on the flop.

If your opponent fires a 2nd barrel, you have the same three choices, but should only raise in exceptional cases. You can't see yourself ahead, meaning you can't raise for value. Any raise you make is therefore a bluff. A 2nd barrel is a sign of strength, so you need several good reads before you can be sure that you have enough fold equity for a raise.

This will rarely be the case, which means you will almost always be deciding between calling and folding. Folding is a good option against a tight player who rarely 2nd barrels without a made hand. Call/flop fold/turn might be a weak line, but you haven't invested much and see yourself behind. You put him on a strong hand before the flop and have no reason to think you might be ahead, a good spot to fold.

If you decide to call you will be in a way ahead/way behind situation. This is not the best game plan if you're facing a tight opponent. You're going to have to believe him when he bets (unless he is very loose and aggressive). Once again, you need a plan for the river when you call on the turn, just like you need a plan for the turn when you call on the flop. Is he really capable of firing a 3rd barrel with a weaker hand, or are you going to have to fold to a bet?

Now we see the big dilemma:

If you aren't planning to call again on the river, even when you think your opponent is quite capable of bluffing, there is no sense in calling on the turn. If, however, you decide to play your hand way ahead/way behind and call on the turn, you have to call on the river, as well.

Of course, your opponent could decide not to fire a 3rd barrel after you call twice. This gives you the option of either checking behind or betting. Be aware that a bet would equate to floating (a bluff and attempt to get your opponent to fold a better hand).

If your opponent is aggressive and capable of making a bluff check/raise on the turn or bluff bet on the river, you should just check behind on the turn and call on the river if you think you are ahead with your hand. If your opponent is tight, you have to ask yourself if you can get him to fold a better hand. You can try to float if you can generate sufficient fold equity.

As we said before, you should rarely play small pocket pairs out of position.

You can turn your hand into a bluff and donk/fold. The problem is that a lot of opponents will bluff raise with overcards when they have the initiative. You will have to fold the better hand, since you can't call this raise.

You could also check/raise, which would essentially be a bluff with more fold equity. This, however, is more expensive than a bluff bet, which means it has to work more often to be profitable.

Your third option is check/call. You could, for example, check/call on the flop and donk on the turn, an out of position float. This is not a bad option when facing a very aggressive opponent who fires a lot of 2nd barrels with air. He will rarely raise your donk bet on the turn, since doing so would essentially be committing himself to the hand. This line allows you to cash in on your opponent's contibet on the flop before you raise him off of his bluff.

Check/fold is your best option against tight and passive opponents who are unlikely to fire a 2nd barrel with nothing. You may be able to take the best hand to the showdown for free and know you are behind if a tight passive player bets on the turn.

All of these situations had you heads up on the flop. Any time you are in a multiway pot, chances are higher that someone will have a better hand. And even if you are ahead, there are sure to be quite a few outs against you. You won't be able to generate as much fold equity, either, and must proceed with caution.

We've examined a few generic scenarios and covered the basic points to consider.

Reads and stats are very helpful. They help you put your opponent on a range and tell you how often he contibets and 2nd barrels, as well as how often he can be made to fold. The Went to Showdown stat is very important when you are thinking about floating.

The action on the turn and river also depend on the cards that turn up. Is there a scare card you can bluff on, or has the situation not changed at all?

Your image and history at the table also play a role. If you've been floating, you should start giving up an unimproved small pocket pair on the flop more often. If you've been playing aggressively and see yourself ahead, you should try to get to the showdown and check on the turn.

Deception and balancing are also decisive factors. If you always check/call flop, check turn with small pocket pairs that don't improve, an attentive opponent will start firing more 2nd barrels your way. You could counter this by playing the same line when you do hit a set (and then check/raising the turn).

This counts when you float, as well. Be sure to play the same line with strong made hands from time to time.

Make sure you don't give up your hand too easily. Your odds of hitting a set are 8.5:1; if you fold 7 times in a row and raise the 8th time, you probably won't get paid off.

Conclusion

You have seen various ways of playing small pocket pairs before and after the flop. Of course, you won't have time to go through everything we have discussed during live play, but you should have them in the back of your head and run through a checklist when facing a tough decision.

When it comes to pre-flop play, the decisive factors are your fold equity and implied odds. You should find yourself making fewer and fewer mistakes as you gain experience.

The main problems you will face when you hit a set are: you will often be out of position and not have the initiative. This makes balancing your lines very important. How you do so depends, of course, on you and your own style of playing. If you bluff raise on the flop fairly often, you can donk with your set. If you prefer floating, checking is not a bad option (as long as the board isn't too dangerous).

An unimproved pocket pair is not a strong hand, but that doesn't necessarily mean you are behind. You have a number of options depending on the type of opponent you are facing. Just keep in mind that a simple call or check/call isn't necessarily a mistake. A bluff raise on the flop can be expensive and isolate you against a better hand.

Information is key to making the right decision. If, for example, you know that a 2nd barrel is a sign of a strong hand and that you are behind, you can check/call flop, check/fold turn (which, by the way, allows you to balance your lines quite nicely).

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