Poker Ustmib » Pocket pairs

Aces vs. Kings vs. Queens

USTMIB — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:08:14 +0000

… Queens obviously end up winning the Pot, what would you expect on PokerStars.

Gotta love those if you’re the one holding AA.

Source and luckbox: Poker97.

4 Pocket Pairs all-in Pre-flop…

USTMIB — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:54:55 +0000

… none flops into a set.

Pocket 3’s, Pocket 6’s, Pocket eights and pocket tens. The tens take the main pot, the eights take the side pot.

LoLDonkaments!

Hellmuth talks about losing half a million to Ivey

USTMIB — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:21:32 +0000

The Poker Brat Phil Ivey talks about losing over half a million dollars to the ever so lucky Phil Ivey in a chinese poker game playing for one (and later on two) thousand dollars per point. Now, anyone who knows the game of Chinese poker a tiny bit knows that’s a huge amount of cash to be playing chinese for — resulting in Phil pretty much offloading a house there…

It’s great to see Phil handle himself well in that situation — from charity to family — this guy knows his stuff. It’s a strange vid, but enjoy it none the less!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pocket Pairs Preflop in No Limit Hold’em

USTMIB — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:14:53 +0000

Being dealt a pocket pair can feel like a strong hand but they can lead you down a troubled road if not played correctly. The best advice is to play the top ones strongly but be prepared to let any pair go if things do not flop your way. Whilst pocket pairs have strong preflop value as the board is dealt they can lose this value rapidly. While, every poker player can tell you a time when their AK was beaten by deuces, it happens less often than it feels like it does. (You just tend to remember being beaten by deuces)

Top pairs like AA, KK, and QQ quite rightly deserve raises and re-raises. They are the statistical favorites in most hands. Playing against fewer players will only increase the value of these pairs. AA is 85% favourite to win a heads up to showdown but this percentage decreases substantially in multi-way pots.

With other pocket pairs you are looking to flop set to make a very strong, well disguised hand. Flopping a set when holding a pocket pair it only happens about 12% of the time. Not quite so rare that it isn’t worth making a small call to see the flop. When the serendipitous moment happens however, you need make it count. Don’t slow-play a flopped set. Chances are the other person will think they have the stronger hand and will call to the river. Which means a big pot an a big win for you.