Getting any pair as your starting hand can be overwhelming at first sight. And it is justified since you have a pair, you already have a hand to start with even before the flop, and a high card (lowest hand rank) is not what you are placing your money on.
However, pairs may not be as strong as they first seem. As the board reveals itself the value of the pair can possibly decrease. And Pocket Tens is no exception.
What does it mean to have pocket tens?
Pocket tens are a big source of frustration for poker players. Nevertheless, despite its challenges, pocket Tens continues to be one of the strongest starting hands in poker.
There are multiple reasons why pocket tens are often considered complex or tricky to play. Below are some instances wherein pocket tens can be problematic:
> The flop has an overcard, and no set, for pocket tens almost 63% of the time.
> Pocket tens as an overpair on the flop can be vulnerable to being outdrawn post-flop given there are 4 overcards that can come on the turn or river.
> Pocket tens can be a challenging hand facing a lot of post-flop action.
> Even though you flop big with pocket tens, the and has an increased chance of being outdrawn by the river compared to bigger pairs.
> Pocket Tens is pretty indifferent against a 3bet post opening from the cutoff and earlier.
Thus as seen above, just preflop is not the issue for pocket tens, and neither is it just a post-flop issue, in fact, pocket tens require making tough decisions at every point in a hand. And even the slightest mistake can cost you dearly.
Although it is a complex starting hand demanding strategic decision-making both before and after the flop, if played well it can be greatly fun and rewarding.
How To Play Pocket Tens Preflop
As far as playing pocket tens preflop is concerned, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.
Firstly, with pocket tens, one must be ready to play more aggressively whenever faced with 3-bets and 4-bets in later position wars pre-flop. In these kinds of situations, there is a wider range of hands for 3bet, thus leaving more space to play aggressively with pocket Tens.
However, if there are early position wars, it is more advisable and better to adapt to a more cautious and calling approach. Here’s what you can do when faced with a 3bet.
When pocket tens Face A 3Bet
Whenever faced with 3bet while you have pocket tens defending should be your default strategy. That being said, there is one specific scenario when folding pocket tens could be a wiser decision. Say you are in an early position and you pocket tens and face a massive 3-bet from an opponent who has a position on you. In such a scenario, overfolding with pocket Tens can be a sensible decision.
Many players often make the mistake of overlooking such a scenario, however, if paid attention to it can be a profitable adjustment to make. Particularly if you are playing poker live and the sizes of the 3-bet in your games are already fairly large.
Squeezing Preflop With Pocket Tens
If you are trying to squeeze with pocket Tens, you must remember that the position of the original raiser plays a critical role. If the player who opens is in a later position and there are one or more callers on the table, squeezing with pocket Tens is a general and profitable move to make.
Nonetheless, if the opener is seated in an early position and there are callers, then the mindful decision would be to call instead of squeezing. This way adjusting your gameplay depending on the position of the opener or raiser can significantly better your chances of success.
How To Play Post Flop With Pocket Tens?
With pocket ten in hand, there is an impossible number of precise post-flop permutations. However, there are different scenarios post flop which require you to act differently with your pocket tens.
When pocket tens are faced with Overcards
When pocket Tens are faced with one or more overcards on the board, it is best to play passively. Particularly, checking should become your default action in these scenarios.
Additionally, if pocket Tens becomes the second-pair post-flop, then it is advised to play for at most a single street of value. If you try to attempt to extract value beyond this could more often lead to giving away more pots and larger pots than what was necessary.
Additionally, as a general note, remember that in these situations one should avoid bluffing with pocket Tens.
Playing pocket tens As An Overpair
If your pocket Tens flop an overpair, remember that it is still a quite vulnerable hand. This vulnerability can be faced by considering larger betting sizes. Large bets, and sometimes even overbets, help in applying pressure to the other players on boards such as 9-5-2.
This is a solver-approved strategic sizing approach that could help you maximize your profits and influence your opponent’s movements.
When pocket tens Flops A Set
If you manage to flop a set or better with pocket Tens in hand, nothing like it. It becomes your powerhouse. In this situation, it is almost always beneficial to play for stacks. The only exception is when the board is highly coordinated or considerable straights or flushes are possible.
By choosing optimal bet sizes and exploiting your opponent’s tendency to the fullest, you can collect big pots faster and take maximum advantage of the strength of your hand.
One must at any cost avoid slowplaying in this scenario unless it is top set on a super dry flop.
Final Words
Pocket Tens can be a challenging hand, but it can indeed depict a player’s poker abilities. By understanding the implications and complexities of pocket tens preflop and post-flop, one can significantly improve their game. They will also be in a position to make better decisions when faced with this hand.
Nevertheless, it is practice and learning that are of utmost importance in poker. Thus by combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, one can become a more successful player at the tables, be it pocket tens or any other hand.
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