How to Play Middle Pocket Pairs in No-Limit Texas Holdem

Middle Pocket Pairs, 5s through 9s, can be the trickiest starting hands to play in No-Limit Texas Holdem. They can easily be over-valued and result in a player losing their entire chip stack. Or, they can be played like a pro and result in raking huge pots.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Deck of cards
• Poker chips/cash
• 2 or more players

Play Your Position at the Table Before the Flop

1. Limp into the pot from early position. The goal of playing any pocket pair is to hit a set on the flop. Therefore you want as many players as possible in the pot to result in maximum earnings. Flopping a set occurs 1 out of every 16 times.
2. Limp into the pot from middle position if there are only callers or folders who have already acted. Consider folding here if there is a large raise. Call in this position to a standard raise, three times the big blind, especially if you think you can outplay the raiser.
3. Raise in late position if there are only limpers into the pot. Weak players will then have to fold and therefore you have weeded out competition. Or they will call and you have built the pot and shown strength. Late position gives a player the opportunity to act after much of the action and gather information.

Play After the Flop

4. Check if you hit your set. Do this all the time from any position unless there are three cards to a straight or flush on the flop. Slow playing here will help to maximize pot size.
5. Bet 1/2 to 3/4 of the pot from early position if you missed the flop. You already have a pocket pair, often times your opponents will not hit a pair on the flop. This move will help to weed out players who missed.
6. Bet pot size amount if you're on the button and every player has checked to you. This aggressive bet will most likely take down the pot.
7. Fold to any large bet or reraise if your hand has not improved on the flop. This is where most players get into trouble. A good player must have patience and be able to fold middle pocket pairs if they have any inclination that they might be beat.

Tips & Warnings

• Pick spots to be aggressive. Even if your hand does not improve on the flop, if you feel that you think your competition is weak, then make a move. You just have to be willing to lay down a losing hand.
• Watch out for drawing hands, especially if you hit your set on the flop. If you feel that your opponent may be drawing to a flush or straight, then you have to make a large bet. You cannot afford to slow play at this point. Either your opponent will lay down their draw with a very large bet or at least you will make them pay to see more cards.