45 replies to this topic

[madman1955]

well this is the my first post and i find ur article good reading for the many ppl out there that are not as in tune on what and what not to do in theese situations. I found it interesting and knowledgeable reading, Thanks

[diegovarv]

The very good lesson of poker, I did the different things with small pairs that at some time give me losses .. thank you daniel

[Gene zzz]

to much postive re enforce ment makes a dull boy this is a proven fact so Daniel what happen with Gus? Maybe tell us what the difference was? I know 4ofK is rare and reading lets you call more so put me up on this one can you ever? (is that a mistake or the expectation will cover that) I would love to here what if anything could come after flop a set thing, which is near common knowleg;

[maker1127]

Thanks for the advice, Daniel...very helpful. I think the problem that I run into more often than not is running up against 5-5 when I catch 4-4. I can't usually read it until it's too late.Great article!!

[gtycoon]

Aseldo, on Wednesday, November 15th, 2006, 1:17 AM, said:

Thanks alot for the advice Daniel , but honestly I already play small pairs like you suggested before this thread so this didn't really help me.

It's great to see you posting here Phil Hellmuth or by any chance is this Mike Matusow maybe? lol

[A009112]

Great articles , would also like to see advice on medium pairs 66-1010. Would you treat these the same as small pairs?

[copernicus]

aasurfer, on Thursday, January 4th, 2007, 2:14 PM, said:

Daniel,Do you suggest playing small pairs differently at different stakes? I definitely agree with the advice you gave for games 10/20 and higher, but i believe a slightly different strategy should be used at lower stakes (ideally 1/2 and 2/5). The live games I play at school are very loose 1/2s and when i go to the casino i usually play 2/5 which plays just as loose as the home games for the most part. At both of these games I find that raises of 5-10xbb are "normal" and usually induce at least a couple calls. My thinking is that if i pick up a "small pair" which i define as 2s-Js under the gun or early position, i'll raise to $11 (1/2) or $25 (2/5) and will likely get 3 or 4 callers. The odds against hitting your set are approximately 7/1 so with 3 or 4 callers you're half way to your odds preflop. Also in these games the stacks tend to be fairly deep (3-500xbb about the norm) so when the villian spikes his ace with a good kicker and i hit my set i'm golden.

This isnt much different than he is saying. If you get 3 or 4 callers then you are 4 or 5 handed and he says go for it at 5 handed, and obv its not a bright line, it depends on how loose the table is post flop. Halfway to your odds does you no good if you dont get any action post flop. Also the odds against hitting your set are 8.3:1 not 7:1. The odds against hitting your set or better are 7.5:1, and of course the problem with the "or better" hands is that they involve a pair on the flop which are much harder to get paid off with, so they actually reduce your equity vs just hitting the set (unless you happen to be up against a hand that hits trips when you hit your boat). Pairs on the board may also inhibit drawing hands from giving you as much action, and those are the hands that pay you off the most when you do hit your set.

[Ausdoz]

honestly this is an instant fold.There are so many hands that can beat you on the flop.

[speedz99]

Go on...

[Sharon Stone]

Well you've probably seen the banners on FCP, Daniel's new book "Power Hold'em Strategy" has finally arrived. Look for it in stores or get your copy online today.-------------------Sharon StoneConnecticut Drug Addiction

[Austnes]

Bling--Bling--75, on Friday, September 8th, 2006, 5:55 AM, said:

Bling--Bling 75 hereI Agree w/ Daniel

Me to. I woundt play small pairs or middlepairs in anyflopp.

[strappazon]

Sorry to bump an old thread...I completly agree with Daniel except for :"A better texture would look something like Q-Q-3 or K-7-2.""What if i raise with a small pair and the other guy call with Q or K ?

[DonMcCoy]

aasurfer, on Thursday, January 4th, 2007, 4:14 PM, said:

Daniel,Do you suggest playing small pairs differently at different stakes? I definitely agree with the advice you gave for games 10/20 and higher, but i believe a slightly different strategy should be used at lower stakes (ideally 1/2 and 2/5). The live games I play at school are very loose 1/2s and when i go to the casino i usually play 2/5 which plays just as loose as the home games for the most part. At both of these games I find that raises of 5-10xbb are "normal" and usually induce at least a couple calls. My thinking is that if i pick up a "small pair" which i define as 2s-Js under the gun or early position, i'll raise to $11 (1/2) or $25 (2/5) and will likely get 3 or 4 callers. The odds against hitting your set are approximately 7/1 so with 3 or 4 callers you're half way to your odds preflop. Also in these games the stacks tend to be fairly deep (3-500xbb about the norm) so when the villian spikes his ace with a good kicker and i hit my set i'm golden.If I pick up one of these hands in late position I play it about the same. My goal is to build a big pot that weak players can't get away from with a hand like top pair/good kicker when i make a set. Only in the rare event that there is a lone limper or just the blinds left will i raise slightly more to try to take it down right there, and if somebody does get stubborn i have the chance to improve as well as position and the option to continuation bet. Sorry if this was long winded, my question is basically if my reasoning is sound regarding my small pair play. I feel that it is the best strategy in these loose small stakes games in which a small investment (5-10bb) will yeild a huge return when i hit, and when i miss i have invested relatively little.Thanks!Phil

How often will you get a pocket pair, and then how often will you hit trips when you do? It would seem like if you're raising everytime in the low stakes games you'd be losing money in the long run.

[DonMcCoy]

Bellerophon, on Monday, February 12th, 2007, 10:49 AM, said:

Oh, your such a good player. You know it all don't you. J/K.... someone had to f$@k with ya.

Seriously? Why waste the space with that post if they already play like that? "Hey thanks for the info, but I already knew it, and do it, so here's my chance to toot my own horn." LMFAO! Good job f#%king with the guy... You should do it some more. : )

[DonMcCoy]

Gene zzz, on Saturday, November 24th, 2007, 10:07 PM, said:

to much postive re enforce ment makes a dull boy this is a proven fact so Daniel what happen with Gus? Maybe tell us what the difference was? I know 4ofK is rare and reading lets you call more so put me up on this one can you ever? (is that a mistake or the expectation will cover that) I would love to here what if anything could come after flop a set thing, which is near common knowleg;

What are you talking about?!

[DonMcCoy]

gtycoon, on Sunday, May 4th, 2008, 7:47 PM, said:

It's great to see you posting here Phil Hellmuth or by any chance is this Mike Matusow maybe? lol

ROTFLMMFAO!!! Nice!

[DonMcCoy]

A009112, on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008, 12:39 PM, said:

Great articles , would also like to see advice on medium pairs 66-1010. Would you treat these the same as small pairs?

Daniel mentions that 6's are part of the small pair group in his opening post, and you have to include J's in with middle pairs.

[DonMcCoy]

strappazon, on Monday, March 30th, 2009, 8:47 AM, said:

Sorry to bump an old thread...I completly agree with Daniel except for :"A better texture would look something like Q-Q-3 or K-7-2.""What if i raise with a small pair and the other guy call with Q or K ?

"What if i raise with a small pair and the other guy call with Q or K ?"-Then you got the information you needed. Put the brakes on.

[IaN "KiD PoKeR2"]

Thanks Daniel. Good luck this year in WSOP!

[051103]

kidpoker2.....your name makes me lolz