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university.poker Original source: Upswingpoker
Play of middle pocket pair after the call 3bet can be compared with the game of "one-armed bandit": you hope to get into the set and hit the jackpot, but the probability of this is only 11%. Of course, this is the most profitable scenario, but in 89% of cases the situation is different — and it is about such distributions that we will talk today. In this article, you will find useful tips on how to effectively play the average pocket pair after the 3bet call in the most typical situations.
1. What counts as medium pocket pairs
Medium pocket pairs most often refer to hands between 66 and TT, although some players include a range between 55 and 99. These hands are in an intermediate position: they are too strong to fold on 3-bet, but not good enough for 4-bet. That is why they are often in the call range against 3bet.
2. How to play medium pocket pair in position after call 3bet?
Tip #1: If you hit the set on the flop, take your time with the raise
When you manage to collect a set, it seems logical to immediately increase the pot by aggressive actions. However, it is often more profitable to play carefully and not make a raise. Why?
- A set is a hand that rarely needs protection.
In most cases, it dominates over the opponent's range. - The Stack to Bank (SPR) ratio is already low pot.
This means that even without a raise, you are big likely to have time to put all the chips in the pot to the river. - You are in position.
This gives you control over the hand: you will be able to raise bet rates on late streets if it is profitable.
Thus, in most cases, it is wiser to wait, giving the opponent the opportunity to continue betting and investing in the pot more chips with weaker hands.
Tip #2: Aggressive overpairs play is the key to success
It turns out that it is better to play the set without a raise, and with a weaker overpair, on the contrary, to raise the bet? Yes, that's right. The reason is simple: overpairs are vulnerable to higher cards that may appear on a turn or river turn.
- Let's take an example: you open with 88 on the button, the small blind is 3-betit, and you call. Flop comes out
, the opponent puts a c-bet sized 75% of the pot.
At the moment, your hand is strong, but if an ace, king or queen appears on the next streets, the situation will become more complicated. Therefore, in such hands, it is often worth making a raise against a small counter-bet. This forces the opponent to make difficult decisions with A-K or A-Q hands with a backdoor flush draw, and also protects your hand from potential overcards. Of course, this increases the likelihood of a collision with a stronger pair (for example, with 99+), but the plus side of this action is confirmed by the solvers. However, it is important to consider the opponent's style of play. If it is very Tight and 3-betit only a narrow range, raising with an overpara on the flop can be risky. In some cases, against such a player, it is even worth considering the fold on the flop.
Tip #3: With a pocket pair and straight draw it is better to simply call
If you have a pocket pair with a potential straight draw, then raise is not always the best option. Hands like the 88 on the 9x 7x 6x board or the 10x 7x 6x are somewhat like sets (as in the first tip) — they have few vulnerable thorns. What does it mean?
- You are almost not afraid of the next streets.
Most turn and river cards will either improve your hand or will not change the situation critically. - You won't get enough valleys from the raise value.
Opponents will rarely continue with the hands you dominate. - The position and low SPR play into your hands.
Given that the stack to the bank is already small, you can effectively play the hand without an additional raise.
Therefore, in such situations, it is better to simply call c-bet and watch how the hand develops.
3. How to play medium pocket pair after call 3bet without position
Playing without a position is always more difficult, especially when you have a middle pocket pair. Therefore, it is important to understand how to adapt to the structure of the board and the range of the opponent.
Tip #1: On boards with an ace or a king, choose check-fold more often
When the flop contains an ace or a king, it is wiser to immediately incline to passive play, especially if the opponent has a strong range. Such board is beneficial for 3-bettor, because there are a lot of Ax and Kx combinations in its range, which he tribetted even before the flop.
This means that your pocket pair is in a difficult position:
- Often you will be behind.
The opponent will have enough strong hands against which you have only two outs. - You will get a lot of bluff.
When your hand is in front, the opponent can still knock you out with an aggressive game.
Therefore, a check-call without additional outs is most often unprofitable at a the long run.
Exceptions:
- If your pocket pair is higher than the average card on the board.
- If you have an additional draw (for example, backdoor flush draw or gutshot).
You can also deviate from this rule if the 3-bet was made with a wide range. For example, if a hand goes catoff against a button or a small blind against a big blind, the opponent may have more weak hands with which he will often bet c-bet. In such cases, you can consider a check-call, and on the turn you can already make a decision depending on its further actions and the structure of the board.
Tip #2: If you catch a set without a position, play aggressively
Earlier, we said that in a position with a set, you should not rush with a raise. But if you do not have a position, then the situation changes. Why?
- You have no control over the pace of the giveaway.
You have no guarantee that the opponent will continue to bet, so the raise on the flop may be the only chance to increase the pot. - It is more difficult to get the extract value of the value on the following streets.
If the villain decides to play check-behind on the turn, the pot will remain small, and it will be more difficult to realize the potential of your hand.
Tip #3: With a pocket pair and straight draw, play check-raise more often
If your pocket pair has an extra straight chance, this is the perfect situation for an aggressive giveaway. Let's say you have
, and the flop turned out to be 6x 5x 3x. Why is it profitable to check-raise here? This board structure is more suitable for a caller than a 3-bettor. Many aggressive opponents do not take this into account and do c-bet too often.
- You create fold equity.
Check-raise for a small bet forces the opponent to reset part of his range, especially if he counter-bet too often. - You keep a strong equity in case of a call.
If the villain equalizes your raise, you still have a lot of outs for improvement.
Thus, a check-raise with such hands is both protection and an exploit against players who put counter-betas wider than necessary.
4. Summary
We have analyzed the key strategies for drawing middle pocket pair in 3-bet banks — both in the position and without it, with and without getting into the set. By following these recommendations, you will be able to make more informed and profitable decisions, which will give you an additional advantage over most opponents.
