Free Poker Tips – Guide to Playing with Big Pairs
In this free poker article we discuss how to play with big pairs like AA, KK, QQ and JJ
If you’re lucky enough to have the best cards, a pair of Aces, its paramount you try and find a large raise or re -raise if a player raised before you. With a pair of Aces you must not call a raise as potentially you’re loosing the chance to get more money into the pot and probably more significantly allowing opponents with poorer cards get better cards on the flop.
If you can compel your opponents to either fold or believe you’re faking it with 1 or 2 big cards and then call your large raise. With double Aces you must ensure the speed of play is at a reasonable tempo by not allowing little raises. Because if you do the other players will gain the chance to improve on the flop and also the number of opponents will drop.
After the flop you should do big raise not giving anyone chance to call for any straights, flushes or drawing hands for small amount of chips. However, there is always possibility that one of your opponents has made a better flop and so you should be aware of the fact that you may no longer hold the best hand. But in spite of this, you will normally still be ahead and so you should continue to build the pot unless you are quite sure that you are no longer ahead.
When playing hands like KK, QQ and JJ you should raise before the flop. Someone would have maybe A and something lower but it is very rare to come up against a better hand before the flop when holding either of these hands, so raising will reduce the number of players who want to see a flop. Key thing is to limit the number of players who you are up against with either of these hands because the opponents can easily make a better hand than you hitting an Ace on flop to make bigger pair.
On the flop there will be two situations: you will face overcards or you won’t. If there are no overcards on the flop, you should continue to raise. Second situation with overcards on the board is more difficult for you but I suggest to raise a 3 or 4 times a big blind and then evaluate you situation after opponent responds to your raise. If he just calls be patient and cautious because it is unlikely that you will win a big pot any more in this situation. If pot gets bigger you must be prepared to let the hand go.
Although it’s not an exact science playing with big pairs if you go for right raises before flops you have a better chance of taking the money. One thing to think about though is the possibility that the opposing players could have better cards than you; especially if they’re playing strongly, gambling and raising too.
I look forward to seeing you at the free poker tables soon!
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