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Title: Small stakes, big pairs. Post by: RED-DOG on April 25, 2007, 11:29:21 AM I have been playing small-ish stakes cash for a few weeks now, $1/2 $2/4, and I have found premium pairs (AA KK) by far the most difficult to play.
If I make a standard raise pre, and get no caller, I win $3 (Which is fine btw) but if I get a caller, I have no idea where I am post flop. I know there are thousands of scenarios, and we can't discuss them all, but it seems to me that I can only win a very small pot, or lose a big one. this is because I have run into 2pr or a set so often that I am now more and more inclined to lay them down as the pot gets bigger. If there are say, two spades on the flop, I bet to protect against the flush, only to find that I have run into 2pr or a set. If I don't bet, he IS drawing and hits it for free. If I pass to a $200 all in re-raise on a 4 6 Q flop, he proudly shows me AQ, if I call he has pocket 44 :D Any advice on playing premium pairs in small stakes cash? Title: Re: Small stakes, big pairs. Post by: ACE2M on April 25, 2007, 12:17:52 PM know your players, who plays top pair like the nuts and who is more careful?
it's right to go broke sometimes against a player who will likely shove with AQ on a Q high flop. been through the same thing and found more concentration and assesment of the players has paid dividends. you have to lose some big pots. I have notes on many players saying 'call shoves with overpairs' Title: Re: Small stakes, big pairs. Post by: A_Leper on April 25, 2007, 05:34:14 PM I think exercising a bit of pot control is crucial in these situations.
I'm generally checking the flop when it's paired, with the hope of checking / calling down (maybe making a value bet on river depending on action) for a cheapish showdown. With a flush / straight draw possible I'll bet the flop then check turn and then re-evaluate on river. If draws missed I'll bet, but also sometimes missed draws have a stab at the pot which you can call down reasonably cheaply because the pot has not been too inflated. So you can get a bit of value from people who make bad bluffs. Those examples are pretty simplistic and vs a passive oppenent (1/2 is the highest I go regularly, I know 2/4 is much more aggressive), but unless your hand improves you have just got 1 pair and generally when people are in a 100bb pot they have at least] 2 pair, so I try to avoid getting in to those situations. Please correct me if you think this is a bad way to think about it, because I'm always trying to improve :) Edit: I think what I'm trying to say is check the turn :) Title: Re: Small stakes, big pairs. Post by: AlexMartin on April 26, 2007, 11:00:58 PM I think exercising a bit of pot control is crucial in these situations. I'm generally checking the flop when it's paired, with the hope of checking / calling down (maybe making a value bet on river depending on action) for a cheapish showdown. With a flush / straight draw possible I'll bet the flop then check turn and then re-evaluate on river. If draws missed I'll bet, but also sometimes missed draws have a stab at the pot which you can call down reasonably cheaply because the pot has not been too inflated. So you can get a bit of value from people who make bad bluffs. Those examples are pretty simplistic and vs a passive oppenent (1/2 is the highest I go regularly, I know 2/4 is much more aggressive), but unless your hand improves you have just got 1 pair and generally when people are in a 100bb pot they have at least] 2 pair, so I try to avoid getting in to those situations. Please correct me if you think this is a bad way to think about it, because I'm always trying to improve :) Edit: I think what I'm trying to say is check the turn :) All of what i wanted to say. Fine post. Esp the bit on controlling pot sizes, |