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TIPS FROM THE PROS
Rafe Furst
May 8, 2006
Players get excited when they flop two
pair because they know they're in a great
position to take down a pot. But often, two
pair is not nearly as powerful as it seems.
This is especially true when holding bottom
two pair or top and bottom pair. These hands
may look dominant on the flop, but they're
usually quite vulnerable.
For example, say you're playing a
No-Limit Hold 'em ring game. There's a
standard raise to four times the big blind
from middle position. You figure the player
has A-K or maybe a middle or high pocket
pair. Everyone folds to you on the button,
where you find 5d-7d. You've got favorable
position and a hand that can flop some
powerful draws, so you decide to call. The
blinds fold, and the flop comes 5c-7h-Ks.
This is great. Not only do you have two
pair, but it's very likely that your
opponent has a piece of this flop, with top
pair top kicker or maybe an over-pair. He
bets into you, and you have to decide what
action is best.
I've seen some players smooth call in
situations like this, but that is not a wise
play. When you have bottom two pair and your
opponent has an over-pair or top pair/top
kicker, you're not as big a favorite as you
might think. Your opponent has five outs -
cards that will counterfeit your two-pair -
which gives him a very live draw. You're a
75% favorite to take the pot, and that's
great, but it's not the type of statistical
edge that justifies slow playing.
The better play is to raise and put your
opponent to a decision right there. Many
players overplay top pair and over-pairs,
and will either call or re-raise all-in.
That gives you the chance to put all of your
money in the pot as a big favorite. If he
puts a bad beat on you at that point, so be
it.
Is it possible your raise will force your
opponent out of the pot and kill your
action? Sure, if he's sitting with a pair of
Queens or Jacks he'll likely fold, but
against that sort of hand, you'd have no
chance to win much of a pot anyway. Your
opponent would probably check to you and
then fold to any bet on the turn. And as
Howard Lederer pointed out in a recent tip
on playing sets, if a blank comes on the
turn and you raise at that point, you'll be
sending an indication that the turn card
helped you in some way. He'll have to assume
that his lone pair is no good.
There will be occasions when you flop
bottom two pair or top and bottom pair at
the same time your opponent catches top two
pair or a set. When that happens, you're
going to go broke. In fact, you should lose
your stack in most situations like this. If
you're not willing to risk a lot of chips in
this kind of hand, you're probably not doing
enough to maximize your pots when your hold
the best hand.
When you find yourself holding two pair,
play them aggressively and get your money in
on the flop. It's the surest way to get the
maximum profit from a strong but vulnerable
hand.
Rafe Furst |
