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FAQ's
Playing Two Pair Against a Hidden Big Pair
1. If you raise on third poker street with a small or medium pair and are reraised by an obvious big pair in the hole, we stated that you should call. Why?
Except for the last card, your opponent cannot make two pair without you knowing it.
2. What if your opponent reraised with a big card up?
You usually would not know if (of when ) he makes two pair.
3. If you know your occonent has a big pair in the hole, how should you play your pair?
Your should call all the way to the end, as long as he hasn’t paired his board. If you make two hidden pair you should raise (or check-raise) but usually not until sixth street.
4. Why do you usually wait until sixth street to raise with your two hidden pair?
No matter when you raise, your opponent will not fold his big pair. You will be able to get only one raise in, so you may as well wait to make sure that your opponent does not draw out on you. For instance, if you raise on fourth street and your opponent makes an open pair on fifth street, you will wish you had not done it.
5. When would it be correct to raise before sixth poker street?
When your board develops “kind of scary,” such as a three-straight or three-flush on fifth street.
6. When is another time?
Against a timid opponent who might check on sixth street even though he would have no reason to believe that his pair of kings or aces is not the best hand.
7. What is the general concept?
If an opponent is betting into you, and you figure your hand is better and you have only one chance for a raise, you should wait until sixth street to get this raise in.
8. What else can happen if you raise earlier?
If you make an open pair that fills you up, your earlier raise is likely to cause your opponent to fold, and you don’t want him to fold.
9. Does this concept apply to multiway pots?
No.
10. What if the pot is multiway?
You should try to run out as many opponents as possible, as soon as possible.
11. Suppose you have paired your door card on fourth poker street and have two small pair?
Bet the maximum into your opponent and hope he throws his hand away.
12. What it your opponent calls?
Continue to bet unless you have a good reason not to.
13. What could be a good reason to check?
Your opponent make an open pair.
Playing Against a Paired Door Card (on the Early Rounds)
1. What do you do most of the time when your opponent pairs his door card?
Fold.
2. When is this particularly true?
On fourth or fifth street when the pot is not yet too large.
3. What is the most important exception to folding?
Your opponent is a wild, loose player who plays almost any three cards, plus you can beat his pair.
4. Are there other exception?
Yes.
5. Describe them.
A. The low card brought it in, did not have to call a raise, and now pairs his door card.
B. A lower card raised earlier, you are very sure he has a big pair in the hole, and you have a hand that either:
1. Can beat his likely two pair.
2. Contains a higher pair than what you think he has in the hole, and the pot is large, or
3. Is a live four-card draw.
6. When else can you also play?
If you doubt that you are up against trips and you have two bigger pair than your opponent’s open pair, such as nines and eights versus sevens showing. It is better for both of your pairs to be higher than his open pair so that if he does have trips and fills up, your potential full house will always beat him.
7. If someone with a low card who was not the bring-in, but who called a raise on third street, pairs his door card, should you usually fold?
Yes.
8. Example?
If someone limps in with a seven up, calls a raise, and catches a seven, you usually should throw your hand away.
9. What if you have any doubts about what you should do when your opponent pairs his door card on fourth street?
Fold.
10. What if someone pairs his door card on a later street?
Be more inclined to call, but only because the pot is bigger.
11. When is one time that you should be more inclined to call?
If one of your opponent’s trip cards is dead.
12. Example?
On third street your opponent has the 7♣ as his door card, and there were three other clubs out. Now it is more likely that he has trips if he pairs his door card. However, if no clubs were out, he is more likely to have started with a flush draw. If no clubs were out and a seven was dead, you would be inclined to continue playing even if he makes open sevens on fourth street.
13. If your opponent is a weak player who had the second highest upcard and did not enter the pot with a raise, is he likely to have three-of-a-kind if he pairs his door card?
He may be less likely.
14. When would this be particularly true?
If he was the first one to voluntarily enter the pot and the player who hold the highest card acts after him.