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How To Play Low Pocket Pairs
The ducks or deuces (pocket 2s), the crabs (pocket 3s), speed limit (pocket 5s), and pocket 4s which don't have a nickname, account for the low pocket pairs in texas hold 'em poker. While a pocket pair does put you at a slight advantage pre-flop, you are never more than a 60% favorite with pocket 5s, and on average if you were to go heads up with these low pocket pairs it would be a coin flip. To give you a better idea:
A♦-K♠ vs 2♦-2♠ = 49.37% vs. 49.96%
K♦-Q♠ vs 3♦-3♠ = 48.14% vs. 51.04%
J-♦10♠ vs. 4♦-4♠ = 50.40% vs. 48.59%
10♦-7♠ vs. 5♦-5♠ = 47.30% vs. 51.63%
Hopefully this opens your eyes that pushing all your chips in the middle with low pocket pairs is not a wise decision as you'll basically lose 50% of the time. Despite the staggeringly low odds of winning in a heads up battle, low pocket pairs if played effectively can help you win some massive pots.
Playing Low Pocket Pairs In Early Position
There are two basic strategies to playing low pocket pairs pre-flop: limp in the pot or raise.
The advantage of raising is that you will be reducing the number of players to the flop. Although even if you're down to heads up the player that called you will undoubtedly be holding two over cards to your low pocket pairs which strips away most of your options on the flop. If your opponent missed the flop this strategy can work, but are you willing to stake all your chips on it?
Limping with low pocket pairs in early position also has its disadvantages, the most obvious one is that you will most likely be faced with a raise from one of the players left to act after you. Depending on the amount of the raise, it's always a wise choice to call the raise. If the raiser is in late position it could be an attempt to steal the blinds, and you've already committed chips to the pot so unless the raise is more than three times the big blind it's worth to commit the additional chips to perhaps hit your 1 in 8 chance of flopping a set.
Playing Low Pocket Pairs Pre-Flop In Middle/Late Position
In these later position your odds don't improve and you're still a dog to almost every single card in the deck, only now you have more information about your opponents. Here you should apply the same strategies as you would if you were in earlier position.
Playing Low Pocket Pairs On The Flop
If you miss the set on the flop you'll need to prepare yourself to fold your hand. If an opponent bets out the minimum you should call and see what the turn brings. If you're faced with a pot sized bet you should fold immediately.
Low pocket pairs are good starting hands but don't get too excited at the prospect of seeing two identical cards as they will be dominated on the flop 80% of the time. The best way to play them is by following the "hit 'em or fold 'em" strategy, either you hit your set or your fold your low pocket pairs.
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