Incorrectly playing pairs is a major error that causes many players to lose their money. After reading this article and applying it into your game – you will be ble to avoid those mistakes.

You must keep in mind that if you do not make trips when an overcard flops – particularly if the overcard is an ace – you are in trouble. This is especially true in a multiway pot.

Example:

You have against 4 opponents, a flops.

• If someone bets into you. (Considering that you showed strength before the flop – you are probably beaten). The best play in this spot is usually to fold. (If the bettor is the type of player who will almost always go for a check-raise if he flops a hand as strong as top pair. Now you can’t fold, and it may be best to instead raise because he is often on a draw and you need to eliminate the field.)
• If no one bets and it is checked to you – bet. With luck, everyone will fold, or perhaps someone will call with a hand like middle pair.

If you hold , , or smaller:

• If no overcards present on a flop – it is extremely important to bet into most flops. (There are many overcards that can beat you if you give a free card).
• If theres an overcard and you are check-raised, you usually should give it up. Occasionally, you might look at the turn card. But unless you make a set, you generally should fold on fourth street if your opponent bets.
• If an overcard is not present and you are raised, you have the option to either reraise or just call (and perhaps raise on a later street).

However, after you bet, if there are one or more callers between you and the raiser, then it is very important to make it three bets. By reraising, you are hoping to make the pot a two-person confrontation.

In heads-up situations, you do not automatically discard your hand when an overcard flops.

Example:

You hold:

Flop:

Your opponent bets. If he is equally likely to bet a ten as a king, then you should of course continue to play. In fact, you might even want to raise, especially if you think there is some chance that your opponent may be betting a draw. However, keep in mind that this is a dangerous play, and to make it, you must know your opponent well.

In addition, you sometimes can semi-bluff with a pair. Notice that you are not exactly semi-bluffing, since your hand has only a small chance of improvement. You are betting into overcards in the hope of folding out medium pairs.

Example:

You hold:

Flop:

Your bet might cause an opponent with 88, 99, 1010, JJ or QQ to fold – especially if he plays “weak tight.” (Even if you don’t succeed in getting anyone to fold, it is critical to bet your hand so that players holding overcards to your pair don’t get a free card.)

If someone else bets or you are check-raised, you usually should fold unless the pot is heads-up and you are against an aggressive player who may be trying to run you off your pair.

Remember that automatically going to the end is a big losing play when you hold pocket pairs in these situations.