10
Mar
Free Poker Tips - Guide to Playing with Big Pairs
In this free poker article we discuss how to play with big pairs like AA, KK, QQ and JJ
If you’re lucky enough to have the best cards, a pair of Aces, its paramount you try and find a large raise or re -raise if a player raised before you. With a pair of Aces you must not call a raise as potentially you’re loosing the chance to get more money into the pot and probably more significantly allowing opponents with poorer cards get better cards on the flop.
If you can compel your opponents to either fold or believe you’re faking it with 1 or 2 big cards and then call your large raise. With double Aces you must ensure the speed of play is at a reasonable tempo by not allowing little raises. Because if you do the other players will gain the chance to improve on the flop and also the number of opponents will drop.
Once the flop has passed it’s a good idea to go for a large raise not allowing your opponents the chance to call flushes, straights or drawing hands for minimal chips. Try and remember there is the chance that one of the opposing players has made a better “flop” and you may no longer have the best cards. The chances are you should still be the front runner and let the pot grow unless you’re positive someone else now holds the better cards.
Raising before the “flop” with cards such as King / King, Queen / Queen or Jack / Jack is a good idea. Imagine if a player has an Ace with a lower card, the odds are on your side that you will face better cards than this before “the flop”. By raising will lower the amount of players who want to see “the flop”- you want to cap the amount of players who your playing against with either of these card duo’s as the opposition can effortless end up with better cards by receiving an Ace on the “flop”.
On the flop there will be two situations: you will face overcards or you won’t. If there are no overcards on the flop, you should continue to raise. Second situation with overcards on the board is more difficult for you but I suggest to raise a 3 or 4 times a big blind and then evaluate you situation after opponent responds to your raise. If he just calls be patient and cautious because it is unlikely that you will win a big pot any more in this situation. If pot gets bigger you must be prepared to let the hand go.
Although it’s not an exact science playing with big pairs if you go for right raises before flops you have a better chance of taking the money. One thing to think about though is the possibility that the opposing players could have better cards than you; especially if they’re playing strongly, gambling and raising too.
I look forward to seeing you at the free poker tables soon!