Situation 21
You are in the big blind with:
And the flop comes
You are first to act after the flop with your pair of jacks. Solid Sam is next followed by Reckless Ricky on the button. The pot contains $310.
How will you play?
• You can bet $300.
• You can move all-in.
• You can check.
First Move Conclusion
We have an over pair to the flop, which is good but no idea about where Solid Sam stands. We know that he has a strong online poker hand because he raised before the flop from first position. Thus the correct move is to check i.e. the third option and see what Sam does. After you checks, Sam checks too. Reckless Ricky bets $300.
What will be your best play?
• You can fold.
• You can call.
• You can raise all-in
Second Move Conclusion
When Solid Sammy checked to you, then it represents that he has two over cards, maybe AK. Reckless Ricky could have anything but you have no problem playing against him. There is a good chance that your pair of jacks is a better hand than Ricky's hand. If we call the $300, we are committed to the pot. Therefore in order to knock Sammy and Ricky out of the pot and try to win the pot, the third option will be your correct play.
Playing Middle Pair
Playing 10-10 through 7-7
It is very dangerous to play any pair lower than jacks. The danger to play the lower pair is that the rival might be having the pair higher than yours. You don't want to put all your poker chips into the pot before the flop with such middle pairs because even if you flop a set, there is possibility than a rival has flopped a higher set if the board comes with over cards.
However when you flop three of a kind you have the strong hand, the hand which you can play all the way even if you get beaten. When you hit a set just play your hand in the way that will put as many chips in the pot as possible.
For the novice players, you should play your pair of tens strongly only when you flop a set. Also keep in mind that any card that comes that is higher than your pair could make a higher set for someone. Sometimes the flop comes which would give a straight draw. For instance you hold an 8-8 and the flop comes to 5-6-7 , giving you an open-end straight draw with an over pair. Also suppose if you hold two tens and the flop comes to 9-J-Q. You have an open-end straight draw, but this draw is very risky because of the two over cards on the board.
Situation 22
The blinds are $10-$25. Suppose Tight Tom limps in the first position. To his left you are holding
How will you play?
• You can raise to $125.
• You can limp.
• You can fold.
Conclusion -First Move
A pair of tens is not a strong pair, especially after Tight Tom has limped in. You want to see the flop cheaply in the expectation of flopping a set. The third option is the correct play.
After you call, authority Austin limps behind you. Then Action Arnold raises the pot to $150. Tight Tom re-raises to $400 and everyone folded.
How will you play?
• You can move all-in.
• You can call.
• You can fold.
Conclusion - Second Move
With Tight Tom limping into the pot from up front and then re-raising Action Arnold, you have to give him credit for a better poker drawing hand than yours. Therefore, folding is the correct play.
Situation 23
The blinds are $10-$25. You are in the bigs blinds holding
Novice Noreen in the first position raises the pot to $75. Tight Tom calls in front of the button. Reckless Ricky calls on the button. The player in the small blind folded. It is your turn to act next.
How will you play this pair?
• You can raise $200.
• You can call.
• You can fold.