How to play a big pocket pair

Being dealt a large pocket pair (jacks or higher) as your hole cards is always a great way to begin a hand. However, it can also lead to too much confidence, so dont get too excited when you see this great hand.

Before the flop

The first thing to bear in mind when playing a high pair is that they play better against fewer opponents. Therefore, your first step should be to limit the competition pre-flop. At this stage you are probably ahead of the other players, so you dont want them to see a cheap flop where they might hit a lucky two pair or trips and have you beat.

Therefore, you should start out by raising the pot. A standard raise is normally around three times the size of the big blind. If anyone has already limped in before the pot, then add their limp in bet to your raise. For example, you are playing in a six-handed game where the blinds are $2/$5. You are the dealer and two players limp in before you. You are holding a pair of kings. You want to raise and your normal raise here would be $15 (three times the big blind). However, you also want to add in the two limpers, so your raise here should be $25.

Why raise this much? Well the more limpers come in, the bigger the pot grows and the less effect your standard raise will have. With $17 already in the pot (two limpers at $5 each, plus the two blinds) your $15 doet really make much impact.

If your raise is called, the texture of the flop is vital to see how you play your hand. Examine the flop to see if there are straight or flush possibilities. In addition, check if an overcard to your pair has fallen. For example, if you are holding a pair of jacks, beware when a queen, king or an ace falls on the board. Your raise could easily have been called by an opponent holding ace-queen, leaving you already beaten.

After the flop

If you are first to act, stop and think about your opponent for a minute. How does he play his hands? Has he been playing with any two cards during the evening, or has he only been entering pots with premium hands? If he is a loose player, you can risk a continuation bet to see what he will do. If he is a tight player though, it is time to take cover and apply the brakes.

If you are last to act and your opponent checks, then the situation warrants a bet. He may be chasing a flush or a straight draw and you want to make it expensive for him to do so. A bet of around half to two thirds of the pot is about right. If he folds, celebrate. Remember, all you are holding is a high pair, which is pretty much the lowest hand in Holdem Poker.

If he calls your bet, then slow down because he might be holding trips or have made two pair.

The turn

Again, the turn card needs to be examined to see how it might have completed other hands. Remember, if you feel you are beaten, take your foot of the gas. You are only holding a pair. If the board is showing a flush possibility and your opponent is shoving chips into the middle of the table like they were going out of fashion, then it may be time to throw your cards into the muck.

The river

The rules for the river are the same as for the turn. The exception here is if you think your opponent was chasing a flush or a straight and didnt make it. Then you might want to fire off a bet here, because your opponent will likely fold. Of course, a wily opponent may even check-raise you to make you think he has two pair or trips. Again, it comes down to knowing your opponent and making a call based on what you have observed his habits to be.

Ultimately, big pairs are strong at the start of a hand, but the more cards come out, the more their power fades. Your AA might feel all-powerful before the flop, but on a board that is 7 9 J  T  Q you pocket rockets look more like an aborted NASA mission.

And always remember to pay attention to what your opponents are doing. Learning to play hands is fine, but your knowledge should always be refined in the light of what your opponents are doing.