Texas Hold’em Tips: Playing Pocket Pairs

Among the best hands you can start a Texas Hold’em poker round with are pocket pairs. Pocket pairs are simply natural pairs you get as your starting hand. Depending on the value of your pocket pair, you need to play using the right Texas Hold’em poker strategy.

With high pocket pairs, the course of action is obvious. In order to increase your chances of winning the round, you need to press forward and raise the bet right away. This move will eliminate opponents with low to mediocre hand strength, which means your high pocket pair stands a better chance of winning the round. Pocket pair of Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 10s are considered high pocket pairs.

With mediocre pocket pairs of 9s, 8s, 7s, and 6s, you need to be slightly more careful. Instead of raising the bet immediately, you should slow-play your pair and see if the flop is to your advantage. If you start with a pocket pair of 9s and the flop shows 9-J-3, for example, your pocket pair is now solid Three of a Kind and you have a good chance of winning the round.

With low pocket pairs, you must not hesitate to fold should the stake is too high. Calling a £100 bet just because you have a pocket pair of 2s doesn’t make sense at all and you are simply taking unnecessary risks. If the stake is acceptable, you can stay limp in and see the flop; still, you must be able to fold when you have to.