Pocket Pairs in No Limit Texas Hold’em Articles | Gambling

By: Richard Bleuze

Playing pocket pairs can get a little tricky when it comes to Texas Hold’em. Your preflop play determines much of the outcome of the entire hand, so it is very important to make the right decisions before you even see a flop. This article will teach you the correct plays to make with every pocket pair, in almost all preflop situations.

Big Pairs (AA-QQ)

Big Pairs are the hands that will win the most, but can also get you in the most trouble. It is very important that you play correctly preflop to avoid huge mistakes on the flop and beyond. The first issue with these hands is position. If you are under the gun, you should limp in with Aces in the hopes that someone raises it around the table, and you can re-raise. With Kings or Queens you should always raise 3-4x the blinds. If you are in early position, but not under the gun, you should play Aces, Kings, and Queens the same: raise 3-4x the blinds.

If you are in middle position, things change a little bit, and you need to consider the action before you. If someone has come in for a raise, you should be re-raising heavily with Aces and Kings. With Queens in that situation it depends on if you have a read on the player. If he/she is a loose player, re-raise with Queens, if he/she is a tight player, just call with your Queens and see how the flop comes. If you are in middle position and someone has called the blinds before you, make a raise of 5-6x the blinds with all three hands.

In late position, things change even more. If multiple people have called the blinds, you’ll want to make a raise of anywhere between 6-8x the blinds to force the limpers out. If no one has entered the pot, and you are in late position, you should just make a standard raise of 3-4x the blinds.

Mid Pairs (JJ-88)

I included JJ in the Mid Pairs section because there are a number of ways to play it. Honestly, when it comes to JJ you’ll need to have a read on your man and the situation to determine if you should play it like a big pair, or play it like a mid pair.

Mid pairs can be tricky because you have to make a read preflop and stick with it. If you think your opponent has a higher pocket pair you will have to fold, but if you think they have over-cards you want to play aggressively. In early position I like to come in for a raise with Mid Pairs of 3-4x the big blind as long as no one has entered the pot yet.

In middle position I will make the same raise if no one has entered, or just call the bet if someone has called or raised before me. Late position I play them exactly the same as in middle position.

Small Pairs (77-22)

Small Pairs are basically played very slow preflop. You want to get in for cheap, and against multiple opponents. In early position I usually just fold most of these hands because you don’t know what the rest of the table is going to do. In middle and late position however, I call the blinds hoping to make a set on the flop.

If you are facing a raise with a small pair, you should consider calling only if you are confident other people will be in the pot. If you can get into a 5-way pot for a 3x raise it would be an excellent situation for you, because if you hit your set you will most likely see a huge pay-off.

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