2 Pair Strategy

[bennymacca]

2 pair is a hard one, this is what i like to do....

if i am in position, and i have 2 top pairs, i will generally slow play it,
UNLESS.

1. The board is paired. in this case, i think a big (pot or bigger) bet is the way to go, if you are leading out. if he then raises, hes probably got trips, so u can fold it. if he calls, he might have top pair, or slow playing trips, so in this case i would maybe check the turn to him, see what he does. a small bet puts him on the pair.

2. If there are 2 suited cards or straight draw out there, i think its important that he doesnt call on his draw. in this case, i will bet as many chips as required for him/her to fold.

4. if the flop is all suited, or board pair, or running cards, i will probably play it like a top pair - i.e call small bets, fold to big ones.

5. if i have say 2 bottom pairs, then its somewhere in between, but i would probably like to get my chips in to stop the board pairing an over card which will screw me over.

Any comments on this?

[Origami]

2 pair is a hard one, this is what i like to do....

if i am in position, and i have 2 top pairs, i will generally slow play it,
UNLESS.

1. The board is paired. in this case, i think a big (pot or bigger) bet is the way to go, if you are leading out. if he then raises, hes probably got trips, so u can fold it. if he calls, he might have top pair, or slow playing trips, so in this case i would maybe check the turn to him, see what he does. a small bet puts him on the pair.

2. If there are 2 suited cards or straight draw out there, i think its important that he doesnt call on his draw. in this case, i will get as many chips as required for him to fold.

4. if the flop is all suited, or board pair, or running cards, i will probably play it like a top pair - i.e call small bets, fold to big ones.

5. if i have say 2 bottom pairs, then its somewhere in between, but i would probably like to get my chips in to stop the board pairing an over card which will screw me over.

Any comments on this?

an old adage often used in poker [ most card games ]

--Beware the Two Pair--

Trips are easy winners if the flop/board is paired !!

its why I play poker fun isn,t it. ????

[Brett Kay]

I think playing two pair changes with each situation and can't be prescribed general rules as the ones that you have above.

Your saying you are in position, i am assuming on the button, or one or two spots to the right of dealer. Are there players playing behind you also. Was there any raising preflop? Or were there a lot of limpers?

How do you play them if you are out of position? Same rules just with less money?

If i read this, and you fed a weak bet, i would probably re raise you each time. Because you think i have trips especially if the board is paired. Might be a -ev play for me, but if you fold everytime, then obviously starts become neutral to + ev for me.

A lot of the time though novice/amateur players will flat call if they have trips. Mainly because they think they are unbeatable and will try and get more money out of you if you bet again.

A lot of the time you just have to think about what the other player is playing with or how they have been playing. If they have been agressive a lot with draws and bottom pairs. Don't have to take all their money, but you can get away from a hand cheaply if they do hit their draw.

If you have a guy that is calling each and every time you bet. Easy to put in small bets and build up the pot that way. Take the money slowly, rather than trying to get all their money at once. Grinding away so to speak.

The other side of this is, how have you been playing? Whats your image at the table? If you have been super agressive on nothing, do you continue betting knowing a lot more people will call? If you have been tight and only betting on good hands that are winners, do you check and let them bet at you, with them thinking you are weak?

Why poker is such an interesting game, there are more factors to consider than just cards and probability of a win. There are no standard ways to play a hand, there are no surefire ways of winning a hand because that is how it should be played.

Everything is dynamic and evolving.

Cheers,
Brett.

[Garth Kay]

Holy crap, my brother is starting to sound like a REAL poker player. I think there might be a heads up session when you get over here little bro! I'm a little bit scared.
Well written comments, I think your becoming the poker guru.
But a word of advice I have learnt my lesson on teaching some of these SA guys over here on how to play and giving out a few free tips. Those free tips are now beginning to cost me in the long run with too many of my "proteges" now using game play and strategy tips on me.
We need to leave a few fish in the pool so I can still earn some extra income.

[Luke05(Jamo)]

don't worry Garth it's allways fun fishing some times lol

[Des]

Holy crap, my brother is starting to sound like a REAL poker player. I think there might be a heads up session when you get over here little bro! I'm a little bit scared.
Well written comments, I think your becoming the poker guru.
But a word of advice I have learnt my lesson on teaching some of these SA guys over here on how to play and giving out a few free tips. Those free tips are now beginning to cost me in the long run with too many of my "proteges" now using game play and strategy tips on me.
We need to leave a few fish in the pool so I can still earn some extra income.

I'll deal for that heads up challenge

[bennymacca]

all valid points brett.

i was mainly talking from my perspective. i play at the old spot in gawler where the games are usually very tight (1 out in the first hour last night).

as a result of this, i try to position myself as slightly looser than the rest of the table, but still trying to maintain a tight/aggressive table image (im sure most people try to do this). this allows me to pick up a lot of cheap pots.

having said that, there are a few known loose players, that have to be treated with a bit more care.

as you say, there are many variables that have to be considered such as other players' action, but i tried to present a typical situation that can obviously be varied depending on position, table image, and other things.

good comments though, i will certainly take them on board.
hope to beat you on the felt some time

[Brett Kay]

I am easy to beat on a table, think i have too many leaks gamewise, or just too easy to read. .

Don't worry Garth, just trying to do the information overload on a lot of them. Won't reveal all the tips and tricks that i have though, some are pretty nifty.

Also think i am of the adage, those that can't do, teach. .

Just have to remember, poker is a game about variance and swings. Its the call you wanted that they made a mistake playing, unfortunately they outdraw on you. .

[Garth Kay]

Brett, your biggest problem is that you have so many tells. And mind you that's not a bad thing, it's better to be giving off 1000 tells than 1 or 2. But being your brother I read you fairly well. Extended chip tosses, breathing patterns, eye twitches. Left hand moving cards, involuntarily taping your right index finger. So many.But notice I didn't mention what each one meant.

[BigPete33]

Maybe they're synonomous with different names that he's calling you