Pocket deuces fall into the same category as 66, 55, 44, and 33. Generally, I do not think low pairs as hole cards have a high winning percentage. At most, it is about 51% and that is accounting for a 3% accuracy one way or the other, so a 48-54% swing. I don't like playing them much.
A lot depends on position. I think playing in a later position is probably optimal. That way, at least, you can see who plays and who does not, and how the betting and raising are stacking up. If you are in a late position, and your stack can take the punishment in case of a loss, and the play remains equal to the big blind, a call pre-flop is not a bad play, especially if the number of opponents drop out. So, call but do not bet or raise.
Of course, what you are looking for is a trip on the flop. (Yes, dreaming about quads is permitted, but don't count on it. It can lead to nightmares.) If you do not trip on the flop, the best you can do is to check, if possible, in the hope of getting a free pass to the turn. If any player raises, my advice would be to fold because it can be awful expensive chasing the trips, remembering at all times that any higher pair will beat you.
Now, if you should trip on the flop, then your odds of winning climb to about 74% with a swing again of 3%, meaning 71-77%. How you play next is critical to winning or losing. A trip is a decently strong hand at any given time, but low trips are vulnerable at the best of them.
Measure your chances of winning against the cards in your hands and those in the flop. Take a really, really good look at the board! Play aggressively. Bet the competition out ASAP. In any case, that is what I would do. With trips so vulnerable, I would not want to go to the turn or the river if at all avoidable.
A lot depends on position. I think playing in a later position is probably optimal. That way, at least, you can see who plays and who does not, and how the betting and raising are stacking up. If you are in a late position, and your stack can take the punishment in case of a loss, and the play remains equal to the big blind, a call pre-flop is not a bad play, especially if the number of opponents drop out. So, call but do not bet or raise.
Of course, what you are looking for is a trip on the flop. (Yes, dreaming about quads is permitted, but don't count on it. It can lead to nightmares.) If you do not trip on the flop, the best you can do is to check, if possible, in the hope of getting a free pass to the turn. If any player raises, my advice would be to fold because it can be awful expensive chasing the trips, remembering at all times that any higher pair will beat you.
Now, if you should trip on the flop, then your odds of winning climb to about 74% with a swing again of 3%, meaning 71-77%. How you play next is critical to winning or losing. A trip is a decently strong hand at any given time, but low trips are vulnerable at the best of them.
Measure your chances of winning against the cards in your hands and those in the flop. Take a really, really good look at the board! Play aggressively. Bet the competition out ASAP. In any case, that is what I would do. With trips so vulnerable, I would not want to go to the turn or the river if at all avoidable.
I would try to get in cheap. Also, late position would be preferred but not necessary in the early stages of a tournament. If it's late in the tournament then bet in late position if nobody has limped or bet. Snap fold if you're in early position.
derek jones said:
Yeah unless my pair is super low and there's a huge raise I'll stay in for the same reason. I actually get more amped when there's a single BB raise and multiple callers with lower pairs because I assume there will be more "rags" in the deck when the flop comes.
Only good for set mining at a large table with large effective stacks. Limp in from late position is ideal, or if you feel aggressive, a small raise. Short handed (or, in late position with no action ahead of you, occasionally), you can push with short effective stacks. Be happy to steal, but they're not awful with one caller as long as there's not a lot of betting post flop.
I hate deuces!! What alienated said is very true. And even when you DO hit your set, it's still the weakest set you can get..
I remember I busted out of a big tournament early on when I hit a set of 6s on turn, only to run into a slow played set of 7s from the flop. I was not a happy bunny I can tell you!!
Deuces suck!! Aces all the way!!!
I remember I busted out of a big tournament early on when I hit a set of 6s on turn, only to run into a slow played set of 7s from the flop. I was not a happy bunny I can tell you!!
Deuces suck!! Aces all the way!!!
practically those cards do not play, the only way to play is to have very few chips or sometimes only pay the blind if nobody bets more than that, just to see the flop, it all depends on the circumstances and how they are playing the rest of the players
TeUnit said:
This is actually a very good description of what to do in a tourny, it does seem crazy to people to fold pairs in early position but that's exactly what you should do. It's a nightmare post-flop to have any idea where you are unless you obviously hit your set.
