small pairs

Been playing poker a few years, mostly live cash games. (.25,.50 and 1/2).
My question concerns small pairs and how you play them pre flop. I generally limp in with them, especially out of position. But even if im on the button I find it hard to bet. It just feels like I could either bet, then maybe take it down there or with a continuation bet (small pot). Or limp, possible hit my card, and get some action (big pot).

How do you guys play them?

ide say it depends on wat sort ov table your siting at,,,if u at a cash tab and its tite i wudd defo come in raising mi small pocket pairs...if only called fire contuniu bets out...if u get reraised there easy to throw away...if u on a loose tab ide say limp ...trap play if u hit a set

This is probably not the best tactic but I always call with small pp's preflop, and generally call a raise if its not too large. Usually play for a set or if the raiser is very aggressive and would bet any flop, sometimes I try and call him down with 3 overs on the board. Although it is a good idea to raise every once in a while with small pairs because you have to mix up your play so when the table sees you raise they dont automatically assume: Uh oh, AA or KK for that guy.

Need more information. I play a lot of live poker in the casino and how I play small pairs is completely dependent on the types of players at my table and my table image.

If I'm at a solid table, players aren't being overly loose/aggressive then I will try and see a cheap flop with small ppr's from any pos. At a solid table I play small ppr's with caution.

If I'm at a table where everyone seems pretty tight, folding anything but premium hands then I will raise 3xbb if in early pos. Limp if in middle pos and no one else has opened the pot to a raise, only limped. Raise 2.5x bb in late pos if there haven't been any raises and most people have folded to me. If no one has bet the flop and doesn't seem particularly interested in the cards on the flop I will bet at least 1/2 the pot as a cbet. On button with limpers or small raises I will simply call. On button with everyone folding to me I will raise 4x bb. In any pos where there is a raise of 3x bb or more I will fold unless I know the player who opened the pot is weak and will fold to a large reraise on flop if there aren't any face cards on board.

At a table with a lot of aggression and loose play I will fold in early & middle pos. Call up to 4xbb in late pos. And the rare occassion I'm in late pos on this type of table and everyone has folded to me I will open for around 4 - 5x bb (Depending on who is in the blinds).

It all really depends for me on the types of players I'm up against, the flavor of the table and the image I have portrayed at that particular table. I have a tendancy to play the opposite of the way the majority of my opponents are playing. ie - if the the flavor is wild loose aggressive - I play tight, if the table is tight passive, I play with controlled loose aggressive play.

Wow someone actually asked the exact same question on the strategy forum, my bad.

And to be more specific, the tables I play at are almost alway fast and loose.

PyreLight said:

Been playing poker a few years, mostly live cash games. (.25,.50 and 1/2).
My question concerns small pairs and how you play them pre flop. I generally limp in with them, especially out of position. But even if im on the button I find it hard to bet. It just feels like I could either bet, then maybe take it down there or with a continuation bet (small pot). Or limp, possible hit my card, and get some action (big pot).

How do you guys play them?

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i play them as if they were a big pair, because if hit the card i need i already have a considerable amount of chips in the pot. if the card don't hit. bad luck

I think Tigerstump has a good thought on considering how the table is betting. If you can see the flop for only a call then why not give it a trip. Again, luck plays such a big part so, good luck to us all!

In a cash game, I'll limp with them from any position or if the pot has been opened to a sensible raise, I'll call. I don't want to spend too much money preflop with them. I'm just looking to hit a set on the cheap. And by only limping, I hope to have multiple players seeing the flop thus more chances to get paid nicely if my flop does hit. If it doesn't hit, I just let it go. I follow a strict "No set, No bet" policy with small pairs.

In tourneys, same philosophy while I'm in the green M zone.
When my M is between 10 and 20, I'll open raise instead of limp but I wouldn't call a raise with them because it starts getting expensive to look for sets.
When my M is less than 10 but greater than 5, I generally throw them away. I'm either dominated or in a race for all my chips and I could wait for a better spot to double up.
When my M is 5 or less, i shove and hope for the best.