Pokerwiner.com → Better stud poker

FAQ's

Playing Big Pairs

1. Besides rolled up trips, what is the other poker hand that you should just about always play?
A pair of aces.

2. What is the only exception?
Against several fast players if there is a raise and many calls before the action gets to you, and your aces are dead.

3. What about kings or queens?
Almost always play them.

4. When would you throw them away?
You are positive that you are against a bigger pair or when your cards are dead.

5. When should you throw away a pair of tens or jacks?
If there are several overcards still to act behind you and if your

6. Example?
You have 4♣ T♠ T♥ and there is a queen, a king, and an ace behind you. Normally, the correct play is

7. When else should you throw away a big pair?
When the pot has been raised, and both poker players have higher exposed cards than your pair.

8. What if there is just a raise and a call from the upcards just described?
You should often throw your hand away.

9. Example?
You have J♥ 6♣ J♠ . An ace raises and a queen calls. Unless you know these players very well (and know that there is a good chance that they do not have what they are representing), you probably should throw your hand away.

10. What is an exception to this fold?
You have a live overcard kicker (to go along with your live pair) higher than either of the upcards of the two active players.

11. Example?
You have J♥ A♣ J♠ , there were no aces out, a queen raised, and a king reraised. You should usually play and may even want to reraise again.

12. When would your reraise be correct?
If you feel that there is a good chance that the player with the queen will fold, and this frequently will be the case.

13. What if the player with the queen doesn’t fold?
This may require some creative play on your part to get him out of there.

14. Example?
It may be correct to check on fourth poker street (if they check to you the reraiser) and then to raise on fifth street.

15. What should you do if you have a big pair, but two or more unduplicated upcards higher than your pair are behind you?
You probably should fold if your kicker is poor and you don’t have a two-flush.

16. What if your kicker is good?
If it is either a live overcard or a live straight flush card, and is one of your down cards, go ahead and raise. (if reraised you should usually call.)

17. If your kicker is your upcard and is the highest card on board, what should you do?
Usually raise in this spot.

18. When do you fold your big pairs after third street?
You usually should give up if one of your opponents pairs his door card or if by sixth street one of your opponents has either a four-flush or a four-straight on board.

19. How should you play a big pair?
You usually should raise or reraise and try to eliminate as many players as possible.

20. Suppose you have a big pair, but there are several players in and your hand is dead. How should you play it?
It might be best to throw it away.

21. What if your hand was live?
It would be become correct to only call.

22. What is the strategic reason for only calling?
If you don’t raise you will have a better chance of knocking people out on a later betting round.

23. Why?
The pot is smaller and there is a good chance someone else will bet. This might allow you to raise or check-raise on fourth street.

24. What if you bet out on fourth street?
Since there is less money in the pot, your opponents will be more inclined to fold.

25. What is the second reason for only calling?
You might reduce the odds you are getting from the pot to less than your chances of winning.

26. What if many players have limped in?
You should often just call with a big pair and be ready to throw it away on fourth street.

27. From an early position can it be correct to “limp” with a big pair?
Yes..

28. When would you do this?
You might “limp” if most of the following is true:
A. By limping you will convince most of your opponents that you do not have a big pair.
B. Because of the cards that are showing, your big pair is even stronger than normal.
C. You have a two-flush, and all your cards are live.
D. A player in late position is very aggressive, and he shows a high card.
E. Your limping in doesn’t necessarily look like you are slow playing a big hand.

29. Why do you sometimes want to play big pairs deceptively?
You don’t want to give your hand away. (This is not the same as a slowplay or a limp.)

30. Example? A king raised, a queen called, and you have A♠ A♣ 5♦ . You may only want to call in this spot.

31. When would it be correct to go ahead and reraise?
If you have been double raising a lot with three-flushes and have been noticed.

32. When would you definitely reraise with this hand?
If you think there is a possibility that you can get the initial raiser to throw his hand away.

33. Example?
A queen raised and the king called, and the person holding the queen is a very conservative player who might throw his hand away.

34. What happens if the play doesn’t work?
That’s okay. You still get more money in with the best hand.

35. When is another time that your reraise with a hand like buried aces is a must?
In a three way pot when you think the initial raiser will reraise you to knock the third player out.

36. Another example of deceptive play?
You are the low card with two aces in the hole, a king-someone not in a steal position-brings it in for a raise, and no one else is in the pot. You probably should just call and hope to get a raise in later.

37. What if he is in a steal position?
Be inclined to raise. He may automatically reraise thinking that you are just defending against his possible steal.

38. What if you raise with a split big pair and a higher card behind you reraises?
If your kicker is higher than his upcard, you should call and be prepared to go the river.

39. What if your kicker is a live straight flush card?
You can also call the raise. (However, if you catch blanks on fourth and fifth street you should probably give it up.)

40. Example?
You have J♥ 2♣ J♠ . You raise a person holding a queen reraises, and this is the kind of person who has to have at least two queens to make this play. You should now fold.