Texas Hold Em Poker Online
Flop Strategies with Small Pocket Pairs
Shorthand Limit Texas holdem is an easier version than no-limit Texas holdem. However, there are instances when play situations get a bit complicated - like when we play with small pocket pairs. Here are flop strategies with small pocket pairs.
At pre-flop play flop strategies with small pocket pairs are effective in huge, multi-way pots where we expect to hit a helpful card for our pair and perhaps make trips. This is also effectual in heads-up poker. If we play the button player and a player raised and another player folded we should protect the blinds and play heads-up. Hence, we re-raise.
If, on the other hand, we play the big blind, and 3 players have called to us the best thing to do is just check. There's a chance to get a set by the time the flop comes. Remember not to use the re-raise here for a heads-up game against tight poker players. They might have stronger flop strategies with small pocket pairs or higher pairs. Hence, we should think twice before making a re-raise with an 8h and 8 d if the opponent has 10s and 10d. A re-raise here is called for if the opponent has an unpaired hand or weaker flop strategies with small pocket pairs.
When we're playing on the flop, we have to hit a set. This is among the viable flop strategies with small pocket pairs with multi-way pots. If we do hit a set we should use it to build a big pot. If we don't we're better off folding our hand. However, in the case of hitting an ambivalent flop - for instance, the flop comes with 666 or 552 and we have a hand 77 - we shouldn't fold. This situation is worth taking a risk in and we can try to build a big pot with this hand because it's probably the strongest at the table.
With heads-up poker flop strategies with small pocket pairs get a bit tricky. If the flop has all low cards we bet. The opponent is likely to hold nothing substantial. But if the flop has AQJ then we might as well fold - unless the opponent is also working our flop strategies with small pocket pairs at that moment. Any sign of resistance from the opponent means a strong hand and we must fold.
Thus, flop strategies with small pocket pairs are basically dependent on what the flop gives us. It is here we see whether to bet or fold.