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Texas Holdem' Question

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HamSupLo

Diamond Member
Situation: It's a poker nite with friends....even mix of newbies and pros

Game has just started, it's a full table with $1/$2 blinds. On the deal I get a 10/10 or J/J or Q/Q pair. I'm the first one to bet. Should I bet big because of my pocket pair and put down $8 or $10? or should i put in $2 and go for a bigger pot?

I'm not sure about these situations because I'm afraid that the other players might have a A or K and then get a higher pair on the flop.

Any suggestions?
 
go in and raise to about $3 then see who matches. then watch the flop. watch reactions, you really need to watch others and keep a good face, dont do anything with your hands. a lot of ppl have tell tale signs.

then figure out what you want to do.

MIKE
 
let's say the antes were bigger like 10/20. Would you still wait and see?

I can almost get everyone to foldif I put very big bet in the beginning. So here's the dilemna: put a big bet and get a sure thing on picking up the antes or try to hold on for a bigger pot while risking the other players getting a KK or AA pair on the flop?
 
hey thanks for that link, i'm going to check it out. kinda what I was thinking of in terms of "Domination". I'm not sure if i want to steam roll everyone and just pick up antes while i can go for something bigger.
 
i'd raise before the flop. if you just call someone might have a smaller pair and hit trips on the flop or even if they had a junk hand, they might flop 2 pairs.
 
Originally posted by: neovan
Originally posted by: HamSupLo
what if you are the first person in the table to bet? bet big or small?
Click to expand...

big
Click to expand...

So you're holding pocket QQs and you would bet big, get everyone to fold and pick up some small antes? Won't risk and go for a bigger pot?
 
Rise $4 and see who calls. If it flops A or K bet $4 again and see who calls. Now if the caller raises, then you'll know your Pocket is probably no good. Beside you worry too much.
 
Originally posted by: HamSupLo
Originally posted by: neovan
Originally posted by: HamSupLo
what if you are the first person in the table to bet? bet big or small?
Click to expand...

big
Click to expand...

So you're holding pocket QQs and you would bet big, get everyone to fold and pick up some small antes? Won't risk and go for a bigger pot?
Click to expand...

Are you playing Limit or No Limit?
 
In a large game, pocket pairs lose quite a bit of their value because so many people have a chance to catch a good hand on the flop.

Play tight but aggressive. Bet a good amount into people and scare some newbies out if you can (high pocket pairs get stronger with fewer people in the pot). The expert players will probably go back in your face, its your call whether or not to believe them. Throw in your cards if you think someone's got the AK, KK, or AA...once again, your judgement.

After the flop, be ready to throw in your hand if the odds aren't in your favor. If someone stayed in through heavy betting in the preflop, they'll probably be holding a couple face cards, and a good catch on the flop is all they need to crack your hand.

On the other hand, if you catch trips on the flop, you are (almost) certainly holding the best hand at the table (right then, anyway). Against newbies, set a trap (bet low or check at first and let them walk into it). Against experts, bet high and force them to play back at you, or at least pay a large amount for the turn and river cards.
 
in a full table, i would most likely bet big and try to get people from seeing the flop for a low price... if you just call, you're letting the blinds get a free look, and they might get something on the flop that could've been avoided had you forced them out preflop...

i would follow TheLonelyPhoenix's advice
 
It's better to win a small pot than to lose a big one. A pair of 10's is only a small favorite over 2 overcards like A-K, K-Q or Q-J. Pre-flop it's like 54/46. Bet enough to scare away everyone with a Q-J suited or a small pair. A sizable bet will get most hands to lay down their cards and anyone that sticks around is on a high pair or two high card. If the flop comes down 2-5-9 you bet big as the overcards didn't catch and are now a huge underdog. If the flop comes down something like A-K-3 you check and fold to any bet as you're likely behind.
 
Originally posted by: HamSupLo
Situation: It's a poker nite with friends....even mix of newbies and pros

Game has just started, it's a full table with $1/$2 blinds. On the deal I get a 10/10 or J/J or Q/Q pair. I'm the first one to bet. Should I bet big because of my pocket pair and put down $8 or $10? or should i put in $2 and go for a bigger pot?

I'm not sure about these situations because I'm afraid that the other players might have a A or K and then get a higher pair on the flop.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Depends on the situation. Is this a tournament with increasing blinds? Or is this a cash game?

I'll answer for either:

Tournament with increasing blinds- Since the tournament is at the lowest stakes right now blind-wise (1/2) I would play cautiously with 10/10 and J/J. Just call the big blind, and play for a set (3 of a kind) ON THE FLOP-if you miss, don't go chasing for a 10 or a J. However if you miss the flop for a set, but the flop is very raggedy (274 for example) I would put in a bet and see what happens . QQ is much more powerful, I would raise four times the big blind ($8) with it hoping to narrow the field. Either that or go all-in. If it's the first hand people often see first hand all-in's as something a little fish and can call with things like AJo/88/and other hands you have beat. Depends on your group of players and your image with them. A quick double-up is great in a tourney situation.

If this is a tourney without increasing blinds (very stupid) I would play these all very passively since you are out of position and have plenty of spots/time to get more chips. Just call, hope for three of a kind on the flop.

Cash game- Raise all three of these hands to four times the big blind ($8), and play from there. You want to limit the field, and make people pay to see a flop with holdings that are probably much worse than yours. In cash game hold'em you want to exploit every edge you can, and these high pocket pairs have the biggest edge vs. other hands preflop, so you want to get in the money preflop. If someone comes over the top of you all-in I would consider calling with 10/10 and J/J depending on opponent, and call with Q/Q unless I knew the opponent to be a very very tight player. The reason why 4 times the big blind is a good raise is because it is not so much that people are afraid of your raise, but it is enough that it will sufficiently punish those calling with worse hands. 4x the big blind raise should be used almost everytime you raise, so as not to reveal any information about your holdings.
 
Chances are with a small bet you won't be able to bet someone with an ace or a king out of the pot...

But if you want to maximize your money its how you play after the flop... I'd almost check any flop with QQ/JJ... If its a monster flop that pairs up two face cards you got to be weary of someone slowplaying trips... If you hit trips, depending on whats out, I'd almost slowplay to let someone into a better hand... Now you could get screwed with that if there's flush cards or straight cards, or the board pairs up...

 
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