Pocket Pairs At Shorthanded Tables

Successfully playing pocket pairs at short handed no limit Holdem tables depends on several factors. Position, opponent tendencies and your table image can often make the difference between profit and losses with pairs. This article looks at several ways to improve your short handed table success when holding high, medium and small pocket pairs.

We will start by categorizing starting hands into small, medium and large – and clarifying the table position notation that will be used to suggest play. Next each group will be taken and playing these hands from the different positions and when facing a raise ahead will be looked at. Finally your table image and the tendencies of your opponents will be factored in to the discussion.

Small Pairs

For the purposes of this article pairs from 22 to 77 are considered small, 88 to JJ are considered medium and QQ+ high. Early position at a short handed (6 player) table is noted as the first 2 positions to act. Out of position play refers to betting after the flop from the blinds or when acting before the pre-flop raiser.

As a general strategy it is correct to raise with a wide range of hands when folded to pre-flop in a short-handed game. This gives you two ways to win the pot – either taking the chips without a showdown (pre-flop or by betting again after the flop) or showing the best hand at the end. The difference in how you play pocket pairs are thus based on your opponents potential reaction to your raise.

Small pairs should be raised before the flop from all positions at the table. The likelihood is that a small pair will be best before the flop – but is less likely to be the best after the flop – especially with multiple callers. The biggest decision with a small pair is what to do when you are re-raised before the flop.

Here you should look at the amount of money left in both your stack and that of your opponent in relation to the size of the re-raise. In order to play you will often need to hit a set, an 8-to-1 chance. To make up for the times you do not ‘stack’ an opponent when you do hit trips make sure that you have 10-to-1 or more times the re-raise as your potential reward.

Medium Pairs

Medium pairs are more likely to win unimproved. Again seeing a flop, particularly with several opponents can leave you vulnerable to one or more over-cards matching your opponent’s holdings. Medium pairs thus need to be played aggressively before the flop to ensure that you have as few opponents as possible. If you suspect that an opponent has a wide range of hands for raises before the flop then re-raising with them may be optimal.

High pairs are strong in any Holdem game – in a short handed game they are even more so. These pairs play best when heads-up against a single opponent. You should thus avoid calling raises before the flop with them as this may encourage a multi-way pot.

When re-raising before the flop with these hands ensure that you are not giving the correct odds to an opponent with a smaller pair to play for set value. Making a ‘standard’ size raise will disguise your hand – especially if you raise often. Resist the temptation to limp with high pairs if you usually raise hands which you play, this will tip off observant opponents to your holding and allow them to make correct decisions after they see the flop.

Position affects pocket pairs less than unpaired holdings. The reason for this is that you will usually have a clear idea of where you stand after the flop. With small pairs you can often call from the blinds (for example) with the intention of folding if you miss the flop.

High Pairs

High pairs can be raised from any position and often followed with a flop bet – an opponent in position may re-raise to try and take the pot, allowing you to raise all-in with your strongest holdings. Medium pairs are affected by position the most, re-raise strongly pre-flop to charge your opponents for the privilege of having position on you.

Finally you need to take into account your table image and the tendencies of your opponents in your pocket pair play. Both pre-flop and post flop play are affected by whether you expect opponents to do the betting for you or whether they are likely to call substantial bets. If you have folded 20 hands in a row then re-raising with a premium holding may become a less attractive option – your opponents are likely to give you credit for exactly what you hold.

To summarize, pocket pairs are raising hands at short handed tables. The difference in play for small, medium and high pairs involves re-raising before the flop and how you play hands after the flop. Position at the table, your table image and the tendencies of your opponents are all important factors in how pairs are played in short handed games.

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