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EXPERT VIEW - The Problem Of Two Pair In Hold`em
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28 May 2006
There is no simple solution to flopping two pair in Hold`em. It is true that two pair is often good enough to win many pots, and it is also true that two pair is often good enough to get you involved in monster pots that you ultimately lose. The key to playing them well is board texture analysis.
In the latest installment of Full Tilt Poker`s lessons from the pros (a weekly email that I actually enjoy receiving), the poker player Rafe Furst (I don`t know who he is either, and I play poker all the time) argues that there are many times when you need to get all your money in the middle ASAP when you hit two pair on the flop, particularly when it`s bottom two pair or top and botom pair. I would add a caveat to this suggestion, namely that the board texture needs to be looked at very closely before you go crazy with those two pair.
Let`s say there was pre-flop betting and you stayed in with 5-6 because you`re crazy that way. The flop comes A-5-6. The pre-flop raiser comes out firing and you put him on Ax with x = to K,Q,J, the usual hold`em situation. You raise all-in in this no-limit scenario and prepare to hold on tight. You`ve made the right play, because if you lose here to runner runner 9s or that A on the river it`s unfortunate.
But often when you flop two pair the situation is a lot less clear. Let`s say that there are 5 callers and you hold Qs-Ts. The flop comes Qh-Th-9d. This is a flop where you must proceed with caution. It is not unusual to see someone else holding J-K for a made straight, and trust me with 5 callers there is at least one person holding a 4-flush draw and another guy or two holding a J or a K. And I haven`t even considered the fact that someone has flopped a set.
Think about the type of cards people play with, and the action that led up to this moment. Was there enough betting to chase out medium cards? Can you push an opponent off his big draw? If not you might have to bet less (still bet with 2 pair by all means) and wait to see what unfolds. If the turn comes Jh in our example prepare to abandon ship, even with top two pair, or hope to stay in cheaply for the outside chance of filling up your boat on the river.
Another bad board for two pair is the following: You play with A-3 because you haven`t read enough poker strategy books yet and you`re raised by a guy holding A-K. You call and the flop comes A-T-3. Just be aware that there are a lot of bad cards out there for your A-3 two pair holding. Not only will a T put him in front but any two runners will do the same as will any of the 3 Kings. You`re still a decent favorite to win but these hands get cracked a lot of the time (a little over 25% I would say off the top of my head).
Two pair is good but it isn`t great. It`s still a lot better than top-pair Ace kicker, but try telling that to the online poker masses who practically start salivating when that occurs. Proceed with caution if the board texture is tricky. That seems to be the moral of this little post.
Posted by: Marc Weinberg at 11:41
1 Comments
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