Small Pocket Pairs in Six-Max No-Limit

• 30.06.2025 8:09 pm
• Helen
• 0 Comments

Incase you have played any sort of frequency some six-max cash games in the past couple of years, you have noticed that the level of aggression has literally reached extremely high proportions.

The question is, are small pocket pairs any good in that huge raise and reraise sea?

Pocket pairs are extremely strong hands with regard to drawing. Usually, they bring about big pot hands the moment they hit. Sets are hands of big money, and the moment you flop any, you have to be prepared to simply get it in and with impunity.

Sets are huge money winners such that even at lower stakes, some players are simply "set farmers". They do nothing excepting playing super tightly and "farm", sets. They do their best to ensure they get all-in the moment they hit.

This super-basic tight strategy is also effective to successfully beat the smallest of stakes, which should simply give you a gist of the power of sets.

Set Farming Isn't Enough

In the low to mid stakes games in the present, you need to do much more than simply set farming if you dream of winning. These games spell aggression, and you have to be as well: its only aggressive play that picks up pots.

Pocket pairs on their part are such huge hands and the games are very aggressive such that the moment it is folded to a payer, they can and advisably should bring in a pocket pair of any king for a raise.

Aggressive play simply picks up pots.

Limping in any game of six-max is a no-no

Six-max is all about aggression and incase you can not raise your hand pre-flop, limping it is not what you should do.

Aggression Gets Rewarded in Six-Max Games

When it comes to six-max games, opponents who act behind a player are fewer compared to full-ring games. This is why it's possible for you to raise a higher hand count- the individuals waking up with any hand behind you are fewer.

Six-max games simply reward aggression, therefore, you should raise it up incase you happen to be first in with any pocket pair.

“Dan, how sensible is your logic. You suggest to me to raise any of my pocket pairs that only flop a mere set 11.8%. What I'm I going do the remaining 88.2% of this time?”

Well, what I have to say to you, simply play poker.

Go ahead and fire your continuation bet. You still possess a pair, and because most hands end up missing most flops, chances are high you will be in possession of the best hand.

The ball is in your court, and you have to know exactly where you are positioned with regard to the hand by primarily putting your opponent on a range. Incase you feel that the hand you have is the best, and your rival is going to call with a worse, bet. Incase you think your rival is going to fold, bet.

Raising with a Numerous Number of Hands

What you need to know when you adopt the TAG/LAG play style is that raising will be done with a numerous range of hands prior to the flop. Continuation betting is something you'll be doing on the flop and with a range that is slightly narrower, but frequently still.

The moment you are betting this flop with hands and bluffs, your rivals find you a complicated player to read. If you are difficult to read, and you make your hands, your rivals end up being more willing to simply pay you off.

Additionally, they will play back when you do not have any hand, but it's possible to safely fold, and this should end up losing you only a small count of bets.

It's best to raise first with any pocket pair.

If you hit and your rival end up playing back at you, the chance is there to win a couple of big bets or simply their whole stack.

This is simply what makes pocket pairs so strong. The moment they flop, they primarily flop strong enough hands.

This is primarily why raising in first with your pocket pair is the best play.

Its possible to win often the pot with your raise initially, on other times, you will simply take this pot down with you on the flop continuation bet. In other times still, you are going to win after flopping a set. The moment you raise with a pocket pair prior to the flop, it provides you the most options to win.

Playing to a Raise Pocket Pairs

The moment there is a given raise to deal with, play pocket pairs more gingerly. Most six-max players usually three-bet the pocket pairs with gusto. I have a belief that this thinking is flawed.

As I had discussed in the article known as don’t overuse the light three-bet, its counterintuitive three-betting any hand like the pocket pair.

Pocket pairs in real sense are too strong with regard to folding. You would no doubt like to carry on with your hand; therefore, calling remains the best play.

Three-betting usually causes your rival to fold prior to the flop, and this literally gives you no chance of winning his stack back. It's possible to win some small pots, however stacking him is difficult. Additionally, you stand to be reraised and also getting forced to fold the three-bet along with any equity invested in this pot.

Your best bet in the moment you are playing any small pocket pairs and against raises is simply to flat-call then play poker on your flop. Three-betting these is simply fancy-play syndrome that does nothing with regard to increasing your general expectation.

What if I Raise then Get Reraised?

This is one tricky spot.

Incase you raise prior the flop, then find that you are reraised, all you need to do is fold at least most of the playing time- unless your rival is three-bettor who is compulsive or if you have stacks that are too deep.

The three-bet should never be overused.

Irrespective of how a compulsive three-bettor your rival is, just calling is out of question. Beware of your image and the position you are in.

Unless the stacks available are deep, the implied odds you get shouldn't be used to call for the set value; if you happen not to be in position, things simply get further complicated.

On a flop certain to miss you more often, against your three-bettor, you will usually be out of position. Usually, you end up frequently being forced to check-fold. Instead the best bet is simply folding then waiting for the next better spot. Incase you are in a position against any three-bettor, folding is another likely option.

If your rival happens to be one serial three-bettor, there is an option of calling, but with the aim of bluffing later or, four-bet them as a bluff.

This should not be done regularly, and only against that player who you know well that you possess fold equity against. Small pocket pairs value comes the moment you flop any set.

It does not happen each time, so if you plan to be playing these fast and before the flop, it's advisable you possess as well some fold equity.

One thing to remember

Always remember that small pockets pairs make a drawing hand.

If you dream of having one positive expectation, it's inadvisable to call a total large three bets before flop.

Most of small pocket pairs value comes the moment a set is lopped, and this happens 11.8% (as mentioned) of the time. The remainder of the time, you are going to be left with what is known as all-overcard board, and this is what makes it advantageous to be the aggressor. As the aggressor, you have a number of ways you can win, you can either win pre-flop, or on the flop or with primarily the best hand at showdown.

Pocket pairs make big hands the moment they flop sets. On the other hand, they can be highly troublesome to some newer players. You will do fine if you play these strong, just like you would with regard to other good drawing hands.