Master Small Pairs and Turn Little Cards into Big Pots
Today, we’re delving into the world of small pairs, a tough but potentially profitable aspect of the game. Small pairs can lead to big pots for small investments if played properly. Here are some tips to help you maximize the potential of those seemingly insignificant pocket pairs and beat low-stakes cash games.
1. Early Position: Play Conservatively
In early positions, small pairs must be played cautiously. Only consider playing them if the table is full of players who do not often raise or three-bet. Getting in cheap is the key to playing low to mid-pairs effectively. These hands will be either feast or famine. You will either flop big with them, sets or sometimes a decent draw; otherwise, if you miss with them, they are an easy fold.
Are the Odds Really There?
One rule of thumb to playing small pairs, especially out of position, is you want there to be significant implied odds. This means you want there to be sufficient stack depth, both in your stack and your opponent’s stacks, so you will have the potential to make 15x the bet you have to call in order to hit your set.
For example, at a typical $1/$3 game, if you limp under the gun (UTG) with a pair of 4’s and then call a raise to $12, you will need your opponents to have at least $180 between them to make it a profitable call. This means not each player in the hand has at least $180, but all the players combined. Also, another important factor is that you have to have at least $180 in your stack to be able to reap the rewards when you do hit your set.
2. Mid Position: Assess Table Dynamics
In the middle positions, table dynamics are key again. A table without much pre-flop action allows you to be slightly more aggressive with your pairs. Very low pairs, 2’s through 6’s, can still be limped and called for small raises. While I prefer to open raise with 7’s and higher at this point. By raising, you are signaling to the table that you have a stronger hand and you are controlling the betting as well. By controlling the betting, you can win a bigger percentage of the pots when all of your opponents miss the flop.
On the flip side, if your table is aggressive, with a lot of raises and three-bets, toss your small pairs as the key to playing them effectively is to not get pulled into big pots with marginal hands. In games like this, I tend to open raise 9’s and up and only occasionally open raise smaller pairs on a case-by-case basis. I tend to shy away from limping in these games as a good player will notice your limps and look to put maximum pressure on you in every spot they can. Remember, small pairs can be difficult to play both out of position and multiway, so these hands need to be properly valued when played to avoid costly mistakes.
3. Late Position: Exploit Positional Advantage
When you are in late positions, utilize your positional advantage by raising or re-raising to narrow the field. With fewer opponents, your chances of winning the pot increase, regardless of if you hit your set. Also, when you show aggression pre-flop, most low-stakes players will overvalue your range and you can often pick up pots with a flop bet, especially on high, wet, and connected flops.
4. Respond to Raises: Calculate Odds
When facing raises, carefully calculate pot odds and the implied odds to determine if it’s worth continuing with your small pair. If the odds are in your favor, consider making the call to chase a set.
Generally speaking, you will hit a set roughly 1 in 8 times (~12%), so when considering calling a raise, be sure to calculate your pot odds, the amount you need to call vs. the amount already in the pot.
In a heads-up scenario, if the villain bets $12 and it is $9 more for you to call, your pot odds are roughly 1.5:1. On paper, this looks like an easy fold since we only hit our set one in eight times. However, this doesn’t account for the implied odds or the remaining chips in the villain’s stack. If they have a big overpair, they will often stack off to you when you do hit your set, so this seemingly easy fold on paper becomes more complex based on player tendencies.
If you have reason to believe your opponent will not be able to fold an overpair, calling small raises can become a positive expected value (+EV) situation.
5. Multi-Way Pots: Be Cautious
Another thing to be aware of is how dynamics change when pots go multiway. When considering coming into a pot with small pairs, be cognizant of the trend at the table. Are most pots heads-up or three-ways, or are they more likely to go four or more ways?
As pots swell with more players, the chances of your hand being best at showdown decrease, and the chance the hand will go to showdown increases. This means additional caution must be used and positional awareness is crucial.
The Role of Table Dynamics
If the table is limp-happy, I tend to not play small pairs unless I come in for a raise or occasionally a 3-bet. In a very passive game, raises from early position are often called unless they are extreme raises (which we would never do). This makes raising small pairs in early position unprofitable because you will not be able to bet as freely as you can in late position.
Conversely, late position raises can be sized up to put additional pressure on the limpers, therefore incentivizing them to fold. These late position raises also give you the betting lead and the ability to steal pots with continuation bets (C-bets) when your opponents miss the flop and give you credit for a strong hand (but we will cover bluffs and C-bet buffs in another article).
6. Post-Flop Strategy: Assess the Board
After the flop, assess the board and your opponents’ tendencies to decide your next move. If you’ve hit a set, most players’ instinct is to slow-play and try to trap opponents. However, this is an ill-advised strategy. By not betting, you are making a few errors.
First, you run the risk of leaving value on the table.
Second, the “tricky” play of check-raising backfires if everyone else checks behind you, which Rec players tend to do.
The third mistake comes in the form of free cards to your opponents, potentially improving their hands and beating you in the end. When they are on a draw we want to milk them for all we can on the flop and turn since they are unlikely to call a river bet unless their drow comes in.
If you are in late position and play checks to you, bet on the small side, 20-30% of the pot. If one or more players call, you can feel confident that they have a piece of the board or at very least a draw they don’t want to part with just yet.
When you do flop or turn a set these players will most likely call larger bets on the turn and maybe even the river, allowing you to maximize value.
When you miss, you can use the flop and turn texture to determine if a second barrel will get a fold or if checking back is more prudent.
7. Stack Size Awareness: Adapt Accordingly
It is of utmost importance to be mindful of your stack and your opponent’s stack size as well.
With a small stack, play more aggressively to try and double up. Conversely, with a larger stack, you can afford to be more selective in your plays with small pairs.
Similar thinking also applies when your opponent is short-stacked. Once they are short they are more likely to get the rest in with any piece or any draw. Therefore, tread cautiously on high card and coordinated boards. There is no need to punt off to a short stack just because they are short.
8. Practice Patience and Discipline
Above all, exercise patience and discipline. Don’t chase every small pair in hopes of hitting a set. Be selective, analyze the situation, and make informed decisions based on the circumstances at hand.
Remember, playing small pairs in Texas Hold’em requires careful consideration, situational awareness, and sound strategy. With practice and a well-rounded approach, you’ll turn those small cards into big wins at the poker table. Good luck, and may the flops be with you!
Now test your skills with our basic (coming soon), intermediate (coming soon), or advanced (coming soon) quiz.