PP PreFlop Strategy

[jasonv12]

A small pair, remember, is an implied odds hand. There is a misconception in lower stakes poker players revolving around the strength of a pair preflop. In a multi-table tournament early, with 50-200+ bbs, the best course of action is just to follow course if there are limpers or raise a little if you'll otherwise be out of position and hope to set mine. 12% of the time you will hit your set. Don't slow play it on flops with 2+ cards of the same suit or 2+ cards connected to a straight and make sure you give such hands the wrong odds to call with your bet sizing -- play it as fast as possible on such boards. On boards with rainbow suits, slow playing ONE street is possibly okay, but only if you think it'll make more money/chips -- but sure to bet the next street if they haven't bet out on the flop or up until then tho. Also, on boards with Q, K, or A, you can play your hand faster because players are more likely to give action with such boards, as they most likely hit their hands. If the board is all undercards to your pair, play it fairly fast (to get two over cards to fold), but be weary of getting too involved. In any other case, if the set doesn't hit and there are overs on board, just fold -- yes even JJ.

QQ-AA is a little different altogether.

During the middle stages, these hands are usually push (not necessarily all in -- but not looking for flop action per say) or fold. If you need a double up, are trying to steal the blinds or flip 52% with someone, this is the time to do it. This is more when stacks become below 40 bbs.

Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with folding baby pockets, especially in turbo settings when faced with a raise or in situations when raised and you'd play out of position.

There is still a lot more to it than this, but this is the best start I could type up.