Pocket pairs are the best starting hand you can get in pre-flop. However, many newbie players don’t know the correct strategies to play in their pocket pairs and often fail to maximize their value with medium and small pairs.
In this report, you will be able to learn about the types of pocket pairs, how to play them, and many more.
Types of Pocket Pairs and Their Strength
There are three types of groups for pocket pairs:
- Premium Pairs – AA, KK, QQ, JJ
- Medium Pairs – TT, 99, 88, 77
- Small Pairs – 66, 55, 44, 33, 22
Premium Pairs are the best types of pairs you can get in the game, and they are easy to play. While small pairs are very tricky and can sometimes cost you chips if you don’t play them well.
The Odds of Getting Pocket Pairs
The odds of getting any pocket pairs in poker are approximately 5.9%. On average, this means you’ll receive a pocket pair once every 16 hands.
How to Play Premium Pocket Pairs in Poker?
A♥︎A♠︎
K♦K♣︎
Q♣︎Q♥︎
J♦J♥︎
These pairs are among the best pre-flop holdings in Hold’em, and you can play them from any position. While pocket jacks can be somewhat marginal depending on the situation, the other pairs in this category are extremely strong. The value of your premium pocket pairs depends on the number of players you are against in the hand.
After being dealt a premium pocket pair, your main goal should be to get as much stack in the pot as possible before the flop. You can easily 3-bet and 4-bet jam an aggressor holding A-K or a small pocket pair.
You should always open action with a 3-bet to gain value and protection, but avoid 3-way action in post-flop with lower-level premium pairs like QQ and JJ. In case you are facing a 3-bet while holding QQ and JJ, you can just call, especially with QQ, hoping to see a low flop.
In short, raise from all positions, re-raise against players, and avoid multi-way pots.
How to Play Medium Pocket Pairs in Poker?
10♦10♥︎
9♣︎9♠︎
8♠︎8♥︎
7♦7♣︎
Playing medium pairs is very tricky. You either have the best pair or the worst pair. It’s just in between. You should open the action with a raise from all positions and be ready to call early position raises.
Getting value from medium poker pairs is about hitting a set on the flop. You have about a 10-11% chance of flopping a set each time, so you can play these hands from an early position. In a late position, you can also raise to chop down the field.
If you don’t hit a set on the flop, then avoid 3-betting or raising. If you have a big chip stack, then try C-Betting to see your opponent’s hand strength. Your chip stack size is going to help you a lot in these types of hands.
In short, raise from all positions, avoid re-raise instead of call, and fold your cards in a multi-way battle.
How to play Small Pocket Pairs in Poker?
6♣︎6♠︎
5♥︎5♦
4♦4♣︎
3♣︎3♥︎
2♠︎2♦
Small Pocket Pairs, also known as baby pairs, are the lowest pairs that can be dealt in Texas Hold’em. Small pairs are the hardest hands to play at poker. They can be winners if you flop a set, but that’s what makes it hard.
Which is why you should fold most of them in an early position. In case you are playing them, be ready to fold down your cards when facing a raise from a late position. You can 3-bet or raise small pairs in a late position to showcase that you have a strong hand. You can also try set-mining, hoping to hit a set and scoop the pot.
In short, be ready to flop them in an early position, and avoid wasting chips.
3 Things to Remember When Playing Pocket Pairs?
While you have now learned how to play pocket pairs, you should remember these 3 factors while playing pocket pairs to make the best decision in tough situations.
1 – Your Stack Size Matters
As I earlier mentioned, your chip stack size is going to play a pivotal role while playing Medium and Small pocket pairs, and here is why.
For instance, if you are low on stack size, avoid raise, re-raise, and 3-betting with medium and small pocket pairs. Your opponent can 4-bet you or put you in an all-in position, and it can cost you a lot.
In case you are holding a bigger chip stack, then you can peacefully do all of that stuff. Here is a recent example, in the 2024 WSOP Main Event Final Table Jordan Griff 3-bet from the middle position with pocket 3s. Andres Gonzalez, who was short-stacked, moved all-in from the late position with pocket 8s.
Griff called the raise with small pairs. He eventually lost that hand, as Gonzalez hit a set on the flop. Griff might not have gone all-in if he wasn’t the Chip Leader then.
2 – Your Position
The reason the late position is called the best position is because they are the last to act on the table. They have some time to read what other players might hold and can use that knowledge to play with their hands.
If you raise a small pair from an early position, and late-position players re-raise, you are certainly wasting money there. On the button, and the Big Blind, position is suitable for raise and call.
3 – Board Texture
Board texture plays a pivotal role in your post-flop strategies. If you see the board is open for a straight draw or flush draw, and you set two pairs or Three-of-a-kind hands, then be ready to change your strategies.
Your opponent may aggressively raise or 4-bet against you in situations like this. With premium pairs, you should just call.
I hope you are now knowledgeable about playing Premium Pairs, Medium Pairs, and Small Pairs.
Keep following PokerProNews for the top tips and tricks to play pocket pairs in poker!
