[ACE'S FULL]

I wanted to find out what everyone here thinks about playing small pocket pairs (ie. 2's, 3's, 4's & 5's) in the cut-off to late position. I am playing nanolimt NLHE on P* 6-Max .02/.05. I have done fairly well, have about 300-500 hands played and up about $15 over my starting roll.

I have had these situations come up a lot. I have tried raising flat calling. What is the best way to play these hands pre & post flop.

Thanks!



EDIT... I should have posted this in the stragtey section & not online. Mods feel free to move... Sorry.

[whataboutj]

I've been running into this issue/question a lot lately on FTP (mostly pocket 2 & 3's). I play in $6 SnG's and $.10/$.25 cash games. I have tried calling the BB & raising the BB and never seem to come out well. I also muck the hand every so often if there has been a really significant raise before it is my turn to act. The problem is that unless you spike a 2 (or 3) on the flop you enbd up playing scared (well at least I do). In most cases I end up wasting chips because overs hit the board

Great question Aces - sorry I couldn't provide an answer, but I am curious to see what everyone else thinks
J

[BrettButter]

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm talking about, so my opinion may cost you money, this is just how I would do it.


In a 6-max game, in CO/late position, with nobody in the pot yet, I'd raise. It's like a blind steal, but you have a little luxury in the fact that you have a hand, and can bail yourself out on a scary flop, or hit a set/good flop that's likely not to improve a caller's hand.

If there's a limper in front already, I'd limp to try and see a cheap flop to hit a set. Raise in front, fold.

[ACE'S FULL]

Originally Posted by whataboutj

I've been running into this issue/question a lot lately on FTP (mostly pocket 2 & 3's). I play in $6 SnG's and $.10/$.25 cash games. I have tried calling the BB & raising the BB and never seem to come out well. I also muck the hand every so often if there has been a really significant raise before it is my turn to act. The problem is that unless you spike a 2 (or 3) on the flop you enbd up playing scared (well at least I do). In most cases I end up wasting chips because overs hit the board

Great question Aces - sorry I couldn't provide an answer, but I am curious to see what everyone else thinks
J

J, Thanks for the resonse... Hopefully JoJo or MJ2K or some of the other students of the game can help us with this topic.

This is the same type of thing that I run into everytime. Even with reads on folks at the table I am still a tad scared when the flop is overcards... I have gone out and bet the flop only to be called or raised, to later have to run due to another big card... ARG!!!

Originally Posted by BrettButter

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm talking about, so my opinion may cost you money, this is just how I would do it.


In a 6-max game, in CO/late position, with nobody in the pot yet, I'd raise. It's like a blind steal, but you have a little luxury in the fact that you have a hand, and can bail yourself out on a scary flop, or hit a set/good flop that's likely not to improve a caller's hand.

If there's a limper in front already, I'd limp to try and see a cheap flop to hit a set. Raise in front, fold.

This seems to be the best way to play these types of hands... Still wish there was a better way.

[whataboutj]

I forgot to discuss the one time I was so fasr ahead in chips late in a SnG that I simply bet enough to put the remaining players all in - everyone folded and I "stole" the pot. The only reason it worked in that situation was that if I was called and ended up losing i would not have been crippled
J

[Savior17]

My answer would vary based on stack sizes. But generally with small PPs, I tend to use the 11 to 1 implied odds rule - set mining (even though you are 7.5 to 1 to hit a set). I limp and/or call a raise if both the raiser and I have 11 times the amount of the raise in our stacks. If you hit, great. You can really clean up.
If I have a large stack, I may even raise, but it has to be big enough to steal the blinds.

[ACE'S FULL]

Originally Posted by Savior17

My answer would vary based on stack sizes. But generally with small PPs, I tend to use the 11 to 1 implied odds rule - set mining (even though you are 7.5 to 1 to hit a set). I limp and/or call a raise if both the raiser and I have 11 times the amount of the raise in our stacks. If you hit, great. You can really clean up.
If I have a large stack, I may even raise, but it has to be big enough to steal the blinds.

Savior, thanks for the suggestions... I have a few questions for you though.

Playing .02/.05 6 max NLHE the standard raise is .15, stacks are generaly $6ish give or take. So your 11:1 rule would work in most cases. Now if you have the 11x the bet and the raiser doesnt then what? Big raise?

Another question is should I be playing these types of hands in the CO? Should I play tighter in these spots?

[Savior17]

Originally Posted by ACE'S FULL

Savior, thanks for the suggestions... I have a few questions for you though.

Playing .02/.05 6 max NLHE the standard raise is .15, stacks are generaly $6ish give or take. So your 11:1 rule would work in most cases. Now if you have the 11x the bet and the raiser doesnt then what? Big raise?

Another question is should I be playing these types of hands in the CO? Should I play tighter in these spots?

I tend to bend the 11 to 1 rule in a cash game. I go as low as 8 to 1. If the raiser doesn't meet the rule, I generally fold.
The issue is at these stakes, you get more callers and a lot of loose play than you would at larger stakes. If I am first to act in late pos, instead of std 3x raise, I go 5x raise. You have position, so I make them pay to play.
I tend to stick to the set mining rule. And definitely loosen up in late position. If first to act, I play top ten, small pairs, suited connectors, broadway hands and Arag, and I tend to raise with these hands.

[ACE'S FULL]

Originally Posted by Savior17

I tend to bend the 11 to 1 rule in a cash game. I go as low as 8 to 1. If the raiser doesn't meet the rule, I generally fold.
The issue is at these stakes, you get more callers and a lot of loose play than you would at larger stakes. If I am first to act in late pos, instead of std 3x raise, I go 5x raise. You have position, so I make them pay to play.
I tend to stick to the set mining rule. And definitely loosen up in late position. If first to act, I play top ten, small pairs, suited connectors, broadway hands and Arag, and I tend to raise with these hands.

I have mixed up my play in reguards to raising... Mind you that 5x BB @ these stakes is only .30... You mentioned the 8:1 for cash games and if raiser doesnt meet this then fold? So if I understand this; if you have 8:1 on the raise and the orginal rasier has less than that you still fold? That is very confusing, any reason why?

I haven't found that the play is realy loose, but top pair w/decent kicker is very over played 95% of the time. IMO

When you say top ten hands what do you mean by that? Also with raising you are talking in any position?

Sorry for all the questions.

[Savior17]

Originally Posted by ACE'S FULL

I have mixed up my play in reguards to raising... Mind you that 5x BB @ these stakes is only .30... You mentioned the 8:1 for cash games and if raiser doesnt meet this then fold? So if I understand this; if you have 8:1 on the raise and the orginal rasier has less than that you still fold? That is very confusing, any reason why?

I haven't found that the play is realy loose, but top pair w/decent kicker is very over played 95% of the time. IMO

When you say top ten hands what do you mean by that? Also with raising you are talking in any position?

Sorry for all the questions.

Check out this article by Brian Willis on set mining. I covers why you you should seek to call preflop with SP.
http://www.pokermentors.com/index.ph...=155&Itemid=32

By TT, I mean 88-AA, AK and AQ (it's really 9).
Raising depends on which cards I have and in what position (and the general feel of the table). For example, I raise with TT hands and some others like big suited connectors and the occassional KQ when I am under the gun.