[jorpot]

I don't use poker tracker or anything, but the biggest hole in my game is definitely low pocket pairs. 2's - 6's. I am getting absolutely killed when I play them. I've heard that there's a 6.5-1 odds of flopping a set, but it seems like 20-1 for me.

I play Limit Ring. And NL Sng's. I need to improve both my preflop and post flop strategy.

Early position. Fold or Limp?
Late position to a raise. Fold or Call?
Post Flop with pocket 3's. Flop is 246. How do I play this?


Thanks!

[chris]

I think just about everyone has this problem. There doesn't seem to be a good way to play these cards (2-6's). I like to fold these in early position (seat 1,2,3)...unless I'm short stack at the table. I'll take the chance to take the blinds and/or at least double-up. Depending on the texture of the table, I'll fold, call, and even raise in mid-position. This is done based on hands in the past and how good of a read I've got on other players at the table. If there were already a raise before you pre-flop...then I toss. If one or two call...then I call. If no one to you...then I'll think about raising and stealing the blinds without a flop. I've had success with each one. I've saved my stack by folding and tripled up as well. As for playing 3's after a 2,4,6 flop, that really depends on what happened up to the flop. How many people are in, where are they located compared to you, did anyone raise, what position are you in, etc. If you have 5 or 6 people in, you're most likely beat. If there is only 2 or three people in, you might be able to put them on a particular hand based on their betting technique pre-flop. I would never call a bet after that flop. Either fold or raise to see where your opponent stands. This also depends on whether you think they bet just because they were last to act and you think they're trying to steal the pot. If you think that, then go over the top. I would just recommend not getting into a pot with too many people because low pocket pairs hardly ever win with more than one other person in. I hope this helps out!

[ThomasR]

Personally:

Early - Fold or play if cheap
Mid - Play, but calls and folds if it gets too deep
Late - Play more often, don't go all in on the back of a low pair but look for that third on the flop

[BigAl]

Agreed, the odds are slim at best, and early-mid on in a game, playing them is suicide as you've found out yourself.

There are chances to play them, just not early on.