Low pocket pairs in early position

**OrionPro** · 08-04-2006

I'm always playing them in EP because I seem to always get away with it. I'll call small raises for set value, when blinds are low (in tourneys)

Is it only working because my opponents are weak? Am I risking too much when calling small raises (set over set)?

**the alex** · 08-04-2006

I call small 3bb raises, even 5bb raises in the first couple of levels with an extra caller. You get too many callers to the 3bb raise early to fold, IMO. If I've taken a big hit early and I'm down to 25bbs, I'll be more conservative because my implied odds shrink and the risk is more devastating. EP, I'll limp/call with 2 or more people. The advantage of being in EP before the flop is that you have a strong feeling of how many people are see teh flop with you to pay you off. Early in tournies, people don't fold to too many raises when they've already limped.

When the risk is so low, like 100 to call with a 1400 stack, the investment's a "toothpick to win the lumberyard."

**tightagressive** · 08-04-2006

obv it depends on the type of game you are playing, the blinds, your stack, your opponents stack, etc.

just for general refrence, dont call large %'s of your stack with small pairs.

for instance i am playing online, and i raise the button 5x the bb.

a guy OOP, calls 5bb's when he has 25bb's in his stack with a pocket 2's for set value

of course the flop is 7 5 2 rainbow and we get all in. he made a horrible play here. in the long run, he wont get paid off enough.

**OrionPro** · 08-04-2006

Thanks Alex / TAG. I understand implied odds since Jason was so kind of explaining it to me a month ago or so.

I was just curious because the NL Holdem starting hands charts clearly tell you to fold low PPs in EP and I've read the same by forum vets.

**tightagressive** · 08-04-2006

Originally Posted by DaFish

Thanks Alex / TAG. I understand implied odds since Jason was so kind of explaining it to me a month ago or so.

I was just curious because the NL Holdem starting hands charts clearly tell you to fold low PPs in EP and I've read the same by forum vets.

starting hand charts are mostly for beginners.

**the alex** · 08-05-2006

Originally Posted by DaFish

I was just curious because the NL Holdem starting hands charts clearly tell you to fold low PPs in EP and I've read the same by forum vets.

You're experienced enough to trust yourself to not be a payoff wiz postflop. TA's point on the % of your stack is important. Idiot will tell you "Duh... You're a 4:1 dog, so if you can win 5X your investment, good call." These idiots don't know the first thing about no limit. You're looking to flop a set here. For safety purposes (higher set, flushes, straights, having to lay down to outdraws), I don't like investing more than 10% of my stack with lo pairs early. After that, it's push or fold which is mostly fold, of course.

Bad run early, I've open-pushed with these with 15bbs or less in a large field with blinds at 25/50 or less. 10bbs with 50/100-100/200. When the antes kick in, I can afford to fold in EP because there's so much to steal in the pot on the button and a couple of hands after it passes.

**AA-ShowMe_DaMoney-AA** · 08-05-2006

Originally Posted by the alex

When the risk is so low, like 100 to call with a 1400 stack, the investment's a "toothpick to win the lumberyard."

This is an excellent point, especially when the blind are low, or if you have a built up stack to work with. If you don’t hit your set you have to fold, if you do hit your set, you're going to get paid off nicely especially if someone made a big hand. Also, if the players are weak and check it down, you might get to see the turn and hit you're set then. Depending on the situation even a bluff might throw some of the players off.

**boomer182_** · 09-10-2006

i'd say in general an allowance of between 5-7% of your stack won't be un-profitable in the long run.

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