Best strategy for low pairs?

[Poysian]

If you're playing no-limit Texas Hold-Em, what's the best strategy for say, a pair of twos? Should I stick around for the first couple of draws and see if I can get three of a kind, or is it better just to muck them and hope for something better the next hand?

[OsiriX]

I always bet if I have a pair in my hand but If I don't have 3 of a kind with the flop i'll fold.

[Nima]

22 is a pretty tricky hand to play. You should try to see the flop cheap. You can't call a raise with 22. (unless there are at least 5 or 6 players in already)....

Also, if you dont hit on the flop, you need to fold most of the time...

[MJPerry]

If I have a small/medium PP (22-88) I will limp, and call one raise provided it's not too large. If the raiser and you both have stacks of at least 12x the raise you're getting the correct implied odds to setmine against an opponent.

Small pairs are most profitable against AA/KK, as if you call one raise vs. an opponent holding AA with 66 and the flop comes down 643 then AA is more likely to bet hard, thinking their overpair is good.

[Nima]

wata u mean?

[The_OG_Rocco]

If you're playing no-limit Texas Hold-Em, what's the best strategy for say, a pair of twos? Should I stick around for the first couple of draws and see if I can get three of a kind, or is it better just to muck them and hope for something better the next hand?

In a multi player table situation (3 or more) I always try to see the flop with any low pair if I am reasonably priced into the pot. If I completely miss the flop, I will usually fold the small pair if someone bets out too strongly for me to continue.
But if I hit my set, JaJaJa:D
I'm gonna make my opponents "Pay" big time, barring any unforseen suckouts or a 'cooler' hand of course. :confused:

In a heads up situation, I will play any pocket pair like a monster hand. Aggressive. :cool:

[bigmike667]

Playing pocket 2s are hard decision to make. But it depends whats going on in the game. If someone raises before the flop, and they raised a high amount, I would fold them. But if everyone were to check and I had a pair between 33-88, I would raise a bit if people, fold, I would just get the blinds, but if some call, we just see it from there and see how the flop goes.

Even like OG Rocco said, if you were heads up, then you could also think of playing it more aggresive.

[Steve-O]

You basically want to have about 20 to 1 implied odds to play a small pair pre-flop (unless the other player gives up his stack quite often). So, if you have $100 stacks you can call a raise to about$5 pre-flop looking to hit a set, althoughthe cheaper you can get in the better.

[nessuno]

I think it really depends on a lot of factors. Are you playing in a tournament? What are your opponents like? How many chips do you have? etc.

I basically limp and sometimes I'll call a minimum raise. If I check the flop and no one bets, I bet to try to win the pot, but generally I don't like to play with low pairs.

[tsrumler]

It depends on your position, if you're early to middle position... just limp in and hopefully it gets checked down to see the flop. If you are in late position, depending on how many callers (less than 3), put out about 3x the big blind in hopes that people either fold or you get one caller.