ITH Poker Forum

[Cyclist]

I find myself in these sorts of hands a lot where I've got a middle pair and I'm not really sure what to do. I feel like I'm leaking a lot of money with these types of hands where I could be just against overcards or quite a strong hand. It's very frustrating for me. No reads on villain. Is there any method people go through to work out whether they should be playing hands like this?


Poker Stars $0.25/$0.50 Limit Hold'em - 7 players -

Pre Flop: (1.4 SB) Hero is MP with 8 : 8 :
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, BTN 3-bets, 2 folds, Hero calls

Flop: (7.4 SB) Q : Q : 2 : (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets, Hero calls

Turn: (4.7 BB) 4 : (2 players)
Hero bets, BTN raises, Hero folds

[Willem]

I would never play it like this. I would always check-call the turn, and probably check-call the river (unless an Ace comes).

Alternatively, you might be able to check-fold the river if you have a read that villain will check the river with AK (as he should). But I would always check-call when in doubt.

Check-raising the flop is also possible if villain is very aggressive, but that's probably spew at 0.25/0.50.

[the_hawk]

The heuristic you can take from hands like these is that being passive is sometimes under-rated.

[thew92]

Yeah you should just call down from the turn raise their is not much that beats you and you getting the right price