How to play small pairs

 How to play small pairings

It can be awkward to play small pairs in hold'em. If they don't flop a set, it is difficult to win the hand with them when they go to showdown. It depends on the situation. For the purposes of this article, small pairs will be pocket twos through fives.

Your stack size and your hand's effective stack size will influence how small pairs you play. Due to the high implied odds of hitting the set, it's more profitable to play small pairs with a larger stack.

Although you will likely flop a set approximately one in eight times, that doesn't mean that you should call raises with small pair when it's for less than 10% of your stack. This common error is made by casual poker players. It doesn't necessarily mean that you'll double up if you flop a set. Don't believe you can get to the flop just because you called preflop. When tournaments start, effective stacks are approximately 200 blinds. You can call a raise with a small pair, and still get the required price.

The tournament's average stacks become smaller, which means that your options for small pairs diminish. You should fold small pairs in the early positions if you are within the 20 to 40 big blinds zone. It is possible to open for a raise with them both in middle and later positions, but if they are re-raised it can be difficult to make a decision. You should usually fold in such situations, but some players are so aggressive small pairs can become strong hands to four-bet push with over their three-bet.

If you raise a small pair of pairs and are called, you'll either make a bluff postflop if your texture allows you to represent it, or try to get out cheaply to incite bluffs. It is rare to be able to bet confidently on multiple streets with a hand you raise.

If your stack is lower than 20 blinds, you can move in with small pairs pre-flop. The exact number of blinds that you should push in each position will take practice. But the principle is that small pairs have lots of equity preflop but are difficult to play postflop so it is a good idea to go all-in on short stacks.

Small pairs are great hands to play with in middle and later position if you have loose-playing players. As long as your opponent isn't the type to call pushes with suited connectors (which are often a favorite against small pairings), small pairs will be good hands to move into with. How to Play Middle and Small Pairs in Texas Hold’em