Roulette

POKER: Calling With Small Pairs

Most theories agree that you should be the first raiser with a pair before the flop, that is, that with your small pair you should usually make it two bets to go. But when it is already two bets to you, a popular theory says you can either call the two bets or fold. Some top pros want you to call two bets with these pairs in order to lure other players into calling and therefore “ build the pot” before the flop in the hope that you’ll flop a set. So they’ll have you passively call someone else’s raise before the flop, leaving you hoping that others will call two bets before the flop as well.

Although this sounds good on paper, keep in mind that you’ll flop a set roughly once in every eight tries. One advantage “ calling to build a pot” does have going for it is that if you miss the flop, you can generally just fold your hand and be done with it. If you flop your set, then you jam it, but if you have a bad flop, then you just fold your hand right away.

Reraising with Small Pairs, before the Flop

I like to reraise with a small pair before he flop and then “ represent” whatever hits the flop (to your opponents, you seem to have started with something before the flop, and to have hit it on the flop). This is a more deceptive approach, allowing a chance to win every pot you play. Imagine having made it three bets with 4-4 over the top of your opponent, and now the flop comes down A-8-2. Your opponent checks to you, and then you bet out with your 4-4, just as if you have A-K. Your opponent now folds his K-Q, and you have won this pot fairly easily.

But let’s suppose you play this hand according to the mainstream “ calling” theory. You call the two bets with 4-4, and one other player and the big blind also call. The flop comes down A-8-2, and now the big blind checks. Now the original raiser bets out with his K-Q, hoping that no one calls him. By just calling the preflop raise, you’ve given the K-Q the chance to use deception. The K-Q is now representing an ace! You have to fold your hand right here. You can’t call the fist bet, because you have to fear that someone has an ace, or maybe the big blind has an eight. You have gone from a position of power to a position of weakness simply by not reraising before the flop- quite a difference.

By reraising, you’ll win more pots, but you’ll also get yourself into trouble more often. Consider the following scenario. You have three bets in with 4-4, but the original raiser has K-K. He decides just to call your raise and then play his hand hard on the flop if an ace doesn’t come. This is a common strategy for people who hold aces or kings. The flop comes down 7d-8d-2c. This appears to be a good flop for you. After all, it’s unlikely that the original raiser has a seven or an eight in his hand, so unless you’re up against a big pair instead of the more likely two big cards, you’re winning at this point. The K-K bets out and you raise him, and now he reraises (three bets) you.

You have a fair amount of money already invested in this pot. If you had known your opponent had kings, you would have thrown your hand away, but it’s also possible that he could have been playing a big flush draw this way. You end up calling him all the way down, only to have him show you the K-K. You have just lost a fortune using my reraising approach! Every approach offers its own risks and its own possibilities.

Now let’s look at the play of the hand using the mainstream calling approach. You just call two bets with 4-4 before the flop, and now both blinds call. The flop is 7d-8d-2c, and the big blind (who wouldn’t have been in the hand using my approach, because the reraise would have pushed him out) bets out, and now the K-K raises to protect what he correctly feels is currently the best hand. You now fold, having lost only three small bets. Clearly, the mainstream approach has done well in this situation.

I like my approach because it is mathematically more likely that the first raiser has two big cards than that he has a big pair. But remember, my aggressive approach does lead to more fluctuation in the size of your bankroll across time.

by PHIL HELLMUTH, JR.,

Phil Hellmuth, Jr., is a sixteen-time World Series of Poker Champion. He has two New York Times best-seller books; Play Poker Like the Pros and Bad Beats and Lucky Draws. This column is an excerpt from his latest book, Phill Hellmuth’s Texas Hold ‘em released this summer. Phil’s books and products can be found at PhilHellmuth. com and bookstores everywhere. Chat or play with Phil at UltimateBet.com and learn about his new cell phone poker game at HellmuthHoldem.com.

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