In poker, sometimes the hand you hold has differing potential depending upon the game you’re playing. What would be a great hand in one form of poker will, in essence, be junk in another discipline. In this continuing series of articles, we’ll examine particular hands and what strategies a player should use.
Big Pairs – The Best Hand to Get?
Most of the time when you peek at your hole cards and see a big pair – and in this instance, we’re looking at pocket aces through pocket jacks – you have to control the inclination to jump from your seat when you put your bets into the pot. Depending upon the game, however, you should look at these big pairs with a discerning eye. Simply put, there are times when you want to be wielding the big guns and times when big pairs are the last thing you want to be holding.
Texas Hold’em
This is arguably the one game that, when you’re holding a big pair, you are thrilled when you look at your hole cards. Whether in a cash game or a tournament, Limit or No Limit, big pairs are an opportunity to get your chips in. A player has to be mindful of several options when it comes to how to play these hands, however.
Whether playing Limit or No Limit, cash games or tournaments, I personally like to raise on every occasion when holding a big pocket pair. Especially in Limit, you want to eliminate any opposition against you. Against a lower pocket pair heads-up, you have an excellent edge (approximately 81% to 19%), but when you add in even as much as one more player with a random hand, pocket aces lose almost 12% of their edge. Thus, the raise is logically the best play to make.
There is something to be said for slow playing in the right circumstances, but you have to be wary of letting your opponents catch up. In addition, you have to be conscious of what the board and your opponent’s betting patterns are telling you. It makes little sense to push your black aces on a coordinated board that contains three or four diamonds or hearts. You must be able to let go of your big hands to be able to survive at the felts.
Finally, you have to be mindful of the odds of a situation. The odds of improving a pocket pair of any type into a set or better are about 7.5 to 1. While a pair of aces in the hole can many times carry the hand, lower big pairs have to be on the lookout for a bigger card on the board and/or coordinated flops.
Omaha
Big pocket pairs as part of your four hole cards in Omaha are some of the most misplayed hands in this discipline of poker. Depending on what you are playing – Pot Limit, Limit, or Eight or Better – big pocket pairs can have a multitude of opportunities and/or dangers that a player has to be aware of.
With Pot Limit or Limit Omaha, you really want the aces to have a big match with them, such as a king or queen of the same suit. The drawing nature of the game is such that you want to be able to build upon your big pairs because they more than likely will not be enough to win the hand. For example, if you’re carrying A-A-K-K, Q-Q, or K-Q double-suited, then it’s a hand you can get a bit excited about. In Omaha, though, remember that there are twice as many cards dealt pre-flop and you could be looking at both your big pair outs being gone. If you miss one of your two outs and the board is highly coordinated against you, look to dump the hand.
With Eight or Better, somewhat the opposite is true. While a big pair is a nice start, you have to be able to draw effectively for the scoop of the pot rather than the split. A hand such as A-A-K-2 or Q-3 double-suited will offer you an excellent chance at that. Other big pairs, such as kings through jacks, will have to improve or have two other good drawing cards to justify playing the hand to the river.
The best way to handle these options is a call pre-flop unless you are in late position and can force any other action out of the hand. In Pot Limit, you may be able to get to that preferred heads-up situation with a raise, but in Limit, players more than likely will not lay their hands down.
Razz
This is the one game where the last thing you want is a big pocket pair. Because the object of Razz and other “lowball” games is to build the worst hand possible, a big pair should immediately find its way into the muck. The only plausible option to play would be aces, trying to build to the low hand.
Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Eight or Better
Whether gated – with one big card showing and a partner hidden in the hole – or hidden, big pairs can be a great start in Seven Card Stud and Eight or Better. Where the differences come is in building your hand after more streets are revealed.
In Stud, you could be able to win the hand with just your solo big pair. Preferably, you would like to add to your pair with another pair or a set. Strong play is key here, with a raise before action on Fourth Street. Also, be aware of the cards that have been shown (it would be difficult to continue on if you’ve seen the other two of your big pair discarded) and other players’ possible builds.
With Eight or Better, we once again have to look back to how we played in Omaha. We have to have a good chance of scooping the pot; otherwise, we could be wasting valuable chips that could be put into better use in other situations.
