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How To Play High Pocket Pairs
There's nothing more thrilling in poker than flipping over your hole cards and seeing two faces staring back at you. High pairs such as JJ, QQ, KK, AA are the strongest starting hands pre-flop but unless you play them right they can lead to disastrous results. How you play them depends not only on your position at the table but also the players you are up against.
Slow Playing High Pocket Pairs Pre-Flop
Slow playing pre-flop is a very high risk/high reward strategy that requires having an excellent read on your opponents. By slow playing a high pocket pair you are inviting players with suited connectors, smaller pocket pairs, and over cards to outflop you when they would have folded to a raise pre-flop.
You have K♦K♠ and you just call the blind.
4 players call and the flop comes
A♣ 10♣ J♣
Now you're swimming in deep waters because you're a dog to any Ace, flush, flush draw or possibly a set. With 4 players in the pot the odds of someone having a ♣ are very high.
Pocket aces can be slow played before the flop with more ease because it eliminates the possibility being outfloped by an over card. You must still be cautious of possible draws once the flop comes however.
High pocket pairs below Aces should always be raised before the flop. The key is not to overbet so as to push everyone off their hand, but weed out the A-x and suited connectors. Raising the standard 3 times the big blind will accomplish this. There are always exceptions to this and the position you are in is one of those exceptions.
Playing High Pocket Pairs In Early Position
Pocket Aces can be slow played or played aggressively in early position because unless the flop is suited you will still be ahead 90% of the time. KK, QQ, JJ should be raised pre-flop to keep control of the betting after the flop. If an Ace drops it will make it easier to represent an Ace in your hand by making a strong continuation bet.
Playing High Pocket Pairs In Middle/Late Position
Now you can more comfortably start slow playing high pocket pairs below Aces. By seeing how your opponents bet you can get a better idea of whether they're holding an overcard or if they're on a draw and you can raise them accordingly.
Playing High Pocket Pairs On The Flop
Unless you are slow playing your high pocket pair, there should only be one or two players to the flop. Before acting you need to analyze both the cards and the players;
- Are your opponents aggressive or tight?
- Would your opponent call a raise with an Ace and a weak kicker?
- Are there any possible draws on the table?
- How many outs do you have if you're opponent has you dominated?
The best way to gather information about the players and finding out where you stand is by making a fishing bet. Bet or raise a substantial amount, anywhere from half the pot to 3/4 of the pot will do, if there's an Ace on the board and your opponent calls without hesitation you know that you are beat and you should immediately release your hand. If your opponent hesitates you can put him on a draw and depending if the turn card completes a possible flush or straight draw you should move all-in to take down the pot right then and there.
The most important thing to remember when playing high pocket pairs, whether you're slow playing or playing aggressively is knowing when to fold them. Too often poker players become pot committed after raising with pocket kings or aces and fail to realize when they're beat. Remember that texas hold 'em poker is a 5 card game and pocket pairs regardless of how strong they are, are at the bottom of the hand rankings.
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