Pocket Pairs in Online Tournaments

[liladypokerpro]

Does your heart skip a beat anytime you are dealt pocket pairs in an online tournament? I mean any pocket pair...22 thru AA. There are so many people writing saying how they got their Aces cracked by a ludacris call, so it makes me wonder how this affects you mentally after a loss with a dominating pocket pair.

Any opinions are welcome, and there are no wrong answers. Just curious to see how people are affected by beats like these, and if it makes you play your pocket pairs differently after a tough beat.

[RiverstarsVictim]

22 is the 13th strongest hand you can be dealt pre-flop. No shame in ever losing to it unless you had better pre-flop.

Need to edit...if you're all-in pre-flop with the better hand then just unlucky.

[frob23]

I voted that I don't let bad beats effect how I play the pairs but I play different pairs differently. Even QQ, I play much differently from AA in many spots. And I am certainly not playing 33 like I play KK.

But that said, I don't let the results of a previous time effect how I play a hand this time.

[liladypokerpro]

Yeah I was just curious about how it affects people after the fact. A few people I know say they hate AA because it "always seems to get cracked" which leads me to believe that beats like these tend to alter people's perception of the strength of these hands, making them play differently when they get these hands, and possibly causing future losses. Just a thought.

[RiverstarsVictim]

AA will always inflict bad beats but will always be longterm winners if played correct.

I'm with frob and wish I expanded more. With low pocket pairs they need to be played correctly. No odds and you cant play them pre-flop. I just cant get annoyed to losing to them because they are longterm moneymakers.

[deanpapa80]

yeah well thats what happens i just move on and play my game u gatta drop what happens bad.. move on ull play alot better.. forget the tough beats u can still win dont give up until u are out.

[Wyte22]

If my PP get beat, oh well, the % went against me. Next time the %s will still be the same whether I've won 100K hands with those 2s or lost 100K hands with those Aces.

Just a fact of life.

Just alittle side note: If you move all in with a PP and get called by someone with 2 overcards, you are only 55% to win. Don't call them, suckout, donkey or any of that.

[rakmupagain]

22 is the 13th strongest hand you can be dealt pre-flop. No shame in ever losing to it unless you had better pre-flop.

Need to edit...if you're all-in pre-flop with the better hand then just unlucky.

This actually, is not true. 22 is not the 13th strongest. hands like qj suited 89 suited and even ak suited are favored over 22, as well as 33 etc... I hand like 89 suited is actually a significant favorite (enough to cover rake in cash games) to make "coin toss" actually profitable in cash game. 536 to 464 is actual odds of 89 suited vs 22 of different suit. Class dismissed

[Maverick0071]

If im playing AA,KK and sometimes QQ i know im in pretty dam good shape. If my big pp get smashed it does not make any difference to how i play them next time. Medium and smaller pocket pairs i will play differently in sit n gos depending on position, stack size and the amount of players left in. I do sometimes fold AA when 2+ other players have gone all in near or round the bubble with medium stacks. I rarely ever slow - play big pp.

[iceveins0901]

I voted that I don't let bad beats effect how I play the pairs but I play different pairs differently. Even QQ, I play much differently from AA in many spots. And I am certainly not playing 33 like I play KK.

But that said, I don't let the results of a previous time effect how I play a hand this time.

22 is the 13th strongest hand you can be dealt pre-flop. No shame in ever losing to it unless you had better pre-flop.

Need to edit...if you're all-in pre-flop with the better hand then just unlucky.

This actually, is not true. 22 is not the 13th strongest. hands like qj suited 89 suited and even ak suited are favored over 22, as well as 33 etc... I hand like 89 suited is actually a significant favorite (enough to cover rake in cash games) to make "coin toss" actually profitable in cash game. 536 to 464 is actual odds of 89 suited vs 22 of different suit. Class dismissed

Quote and Quote

[Vito_Nuccio]

This actually, is not true. 22 is not the 13th strongest. hands like qj suited 89 suited and even ak suited are favored over 22, as well as 33 etc... I hand like 89 suited is actually a significant favorite (enough to cover rake in cash games) to make "coin toss" actually profitable in cash game. 536 to 464 is actual odds of 89 suited vs 22 of different suit. Class dismissed

Some of the larger suited connectors over a pocket pair are mathmatically better than the pair, but most of these are so close to 50-50, it really is a coin flip. Also, yes, 8c9c is 52.6% over red ducks (2h2d) 45.4%, 2% tie.

The lower pockets can be a headache, do not fall in love with them. Even the mid pairs are ripe for over cards. The big pockets, as mentioned by many, can be cracked at any time.

I do not play with fear or bravado when I see pockets, but do consider position (chip and hand), reads, and all other tools at my disposal. Being dealt two identical cards to start the hand means nothing, it is how they are played that determines long term profit or loss.

For the bad beat question, luckily I do not go on tilt often or throw things when a bad beat occurs. All you can do is move on to the next hand/game. I am getting too old to put my dilapidated organs through major emotional highs and lows for a poker hand. It is not worth it when another game is around the corner. As always if a beat hurts that badly, maybe you are playing at too high a level for your bankroll. Bad beats are going nowhere and the better you play the more of these you will see since you will be getting your money in with the better of it.

Later,

[powrdragn]

You can't let this get to you more than any other bad beat. Losing with 99 is no worse than losing with AKs.

You have to stick to your game and not get rattled.

[liladypokerpro]

Well I see that I and 11 other people (thus far) are on the same page, but I'm curious as to who the 2 were that voted "yes" and how do you try to overcome the battle of nerves losing a good hand to a bad hand gives you?

[RiverstarsVictim]

This actually, is not true. 22 is not the 13th strongest. hands like qj suited 89 suited and even ak suited are favored over 22, as well as 33 etc... I hand like 89 suited is actually a significant favorite (enough to cover rake in cash games) to make "coin toss" actually profitable in cash game. 536 to 464 is actual odds of 89 suited vs 22 of different suit. Class dismissed

I did actually say pre-flop. Of course post-flop they will lose their value and you have to tread carefully but pre-flop you're only behind 12 other hands.

Anyhow, I misread opening post and made a complete mess of things anyhow. Never post under the influence

[sspl01]

The Pocket Pairs in Online Tournaments.I've been playing poker since the age of 15. Pocket pairs always used to strike me as one of the most difficult type of hands to play. Over a million hands on and countless books devoured - here is my guide to playing pocket pairs.


Mack

[joemac696969]

I hate mid and low pocket pairs, I usually try to see a flop if it's cheap enough, but half the time I will fold them. I never get lucky, it seem's like the 1 in 8 odd's don't apply to me. My odd's are more like 1 in 15. Good Luck ALL!!!