PLAYING POCKET PAIRS

Tip: Pocket pairs preflop
Explanation: Some of the toughest hands to play start with a pocket pair. Although this is a difficult subject to discuss due to the varying schools of thought, playing a pocket pair can be profitable if you make the right decisions in the right positions. There are generally two ways to play pocket pairs before the flop: limping into a multi-player pot in the hopes of hitting a set and raising to cut down on the number of players you'll face. Keep in mind that early in a tournament, seeing cheap flops with pocket pairs is very advantageous. If you hit a set early on, chances are you will be paid off and take an early chip lead.
2-2, 3-3, 4-4
Quick hit: Although a pair of ducks, threes or fours will win 51 percent of the time against two overcards, these are not the hands where you invest a lot of your chips. Play these hands in middle to late position, but understand that if you miss the flop, you should get rid of them very quickly. Some people like to limp with these hands, but limping allows other weaker hands to join into the action and I'd rather limit the amount of competition than have to outdraw a couple of players.
Early position: Fold. It's not worth it. Everyone is left to act after you and if someone raises, what are you going to do? It's only a 51 percent to 53 percent chance, so pick your spots a little better. Some people believe that if you are going to play these hands in early position, then raising is the way to go. A raise here signifies a bigger hand, and if people are going to lay down their hands to you, it might be a good move. However, if you do not have a good table image, throwing them away is the right idea.
Middle position: I'd still be very cautious here, but if you insist on entering the pot, raise it up. You are probably ahead preflop if nobody else raises, but run if you face any resistance. If someone else has called before you, a call is OK, as long as it is cheap enough for you to gamble. If someone raised ahead of you, get out.
Late position: At this point with these hands, if you are the first to enter the pot, do so with a raise. Playing these cards this way will reduce the amount of opponents that will enter the pot and there is a good chance you will steal the blinds by acting strong. If there are callers ahead of you, by all means try and hit your set.
Blinds: If you have a pocket pair like this in the small blind and there are limpers, by all means see a flop. If there is a raise ahead of you, you need to remember you are completely out of position after the flop and folding is the correct play. If it is just you and the big blind, raise it up. Chances are, he doesn't have a pocket pair as well.
5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8
Quick hit: The middle pocket pairs are as tricky as the smaller ones, but will allow you a little more flexibility when making your decision. Playing these hands to hit your set is the optimal outcome, but stealing the blinds with these hands is usually a result depending on what position you enter the pot. As mentioned earlier, some people like to limp with these hands. I'm not a fan of limping into pots, so if I'm playing these cards, I'm probably raising.
Early position: Two options: raise or fold. With 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7, your table image will have to play a big factor in to how you are going to play it. If you can represent a real strong hand with a raise here, then by all means, go for it. If you know you can't, maybe this isn't your spot. Pocket 8s is moving into the realm of a stronger hand and I think raising here is a good play. If you are reraised by another player in later position, you will be out of position for the rest of the hand if you were to call. Understand your opponents, and if it's someone you feel you can outplay after the flop, call. If not, onto the next hand.
Middle position: Learn to say, "Raise." If you are the first to enter the pot, raising here is a must. You have a solid hand with only a couple of players behind you. If there is a caller ahead of you, calling is OK as well, since you have position on this player. If the caller is a loose player, make him pay for trying to enter the pot by raising it and taking him out of the equation. If someone has raised ahead of you, you need to think about who raised you, how strong their hand could be, and your position. If you are getting the right price, calling is a good idea, but be cautious postflop.
Late position: Play the cards similarly to middle position. One main difference will be that if there are a bunch of limpers into the pot, raising from late position will eliminate some of those players and still keep you in position against anyone that calls.
Blinds: In the small blind with these hands, calling or raising is the way to go. If you are heads-up with the big blind, putting in a raise is a must. If you are in the big blind facing a couple callers, checking is a good idea as it will give you a free shot to hit your set. If you feel you can take the hand down with a raise, overbet the pot and take it home.
9-9, 10-10, the death hand (J-J)
Quick hit: I hate pocket jacks. Who doesn't? Even though I hate them, they, along with 9s and 10s, are still extremely playable hands in just about any position. They aren't premium hands, so don't play them that way, but they will win you some big pots if played correctly.
Early position: I know what you are thinking, how could he tell us to raise with 9-9 preflop? Well, if you are going to play 9-9, you need to raise. Raising these three hands from early position will reduce the competition. If a player in earlier position than yourself raises, I'd be extremely careful of playing this pot, but if you have a good read, go for it.
Middle position: Entering the pot with these pairs is a must unless you face a lot of resistance. Be aggressive with these hands, because you aren't going to pick them up too often. Also remember that it's better to win a small pot than lose a big one, which is completely possible with these hands. If a player ahead of you has raised, you can call since you are in position, or reraise and put the pressure back on that player. Since there are more players to act after you, I would be tentative to reraise unless you are sure that it will create a heads-up situation.
Late position: If you are the first to enter the pot with these hands in late position, if you don't raise, you either (A) are praying you get outdrawn or (B) like to lose pots that you should win uncontested. Raising here will usually take care of the blinds, unless they wake up with a big hand. If a player ahead of you has raised, you can call since you are in position, or reraise and put the pressure back on that player.
Blinds: In either the small or big blind facing callers, a raise is necessary, that should eliminate some competition. If there is a raise ahead of you, a call is probably best. If you are facing a raise, then a reraise, you've got to lay them down.
Q-Q, K-K, A-A
Quick hit: Raise early, raise middle, raise late, raise often. Everyone loves these hands. Why wouldn't you? If you are holding any of these, there are so few hands that could beat you preflop (none if you have aces), that you need to be aggressive.
Early position: Raise. I'm not a fan of the theory that if you limp in with a big pocket pair preflop, you are going to get reraised and then you can reraise that person. It just doesn't happen that way. What if nobody raises, the big blind checks and the flop comes 2-3-4 and your opponent has 5-6? You need to get the junk hands out of the way, no matter what hand you hold. Every hand you hold has the potential to get outdrawn.
Middle position: This is the spot where you get a lot of the chips into the pot. If a player limps ahead of you, raise. If a player raises ahead of you, reraise to get more of their chips in the pot. You need to build the pot preflop, then take it. There is no benefit to you limping with these hands.
Late position: I'm almost breaking the record for most times in a column with the word raise in it, but I'm not worried about that. Raise! Play these hands strong, because that's what they are. Put in as many chips into the pot as you think your opponent will call.
Blinds: You guessed it: raise. The big blind should never check with a premium hand. Build the pot any way possible.
Additional note on premium hands in relation to online poker: When a strong opponent online raises the minimum, that should send up some red flags warning you that he or she has a monster pocket pair. People use the "min. raise" button online to build the pot, because almost any online player will call the minimum raise.

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