Best strategy for low pairs?

[dentocafe]

If you're playing no-limit Texas Hold-Em, what's the best strategy for say, a pair of twos? Should I stick around for the first couple of draws and see if I can get three of a kind, or is it better just to muck them and hope for something better the next hand?

[pokerstar]

When there is a pair on the board and you hold the low set you can get plenty of action from someone holding trips. By betting and raising on the flop you can make them pay for drawing to a bigger full house.

The way I like to play my low pairs is call any raises/ make a raise myself if no one has raised the pot already.

If i hit a set, I usually just bet out myself.

If the flop is garbage, say something like 4 9 2, I'd usually put in a bet, or a raise if anyone has already bet out.

Most of the time i just muck it if an ace or king has hit the board.

[pokersme]

I just muck it and hope for something better. Simpler.

[Archbob]

It depends actually. If its pre-flop and my chips are high, I try to limp and see if I can hit a set. No one suspects pocket 2's so hitting a set and beating a player with 2 pair or high pair is very profitable. If I'm low-stacked I go all-in and try to buy it. If a person with 2 overs calls, I still hot coinflip.

[Forgive Darkness]

For low pairs I would check often and maybe raise slighty and see how the flop looks before making any serious moves. Do not whatsoever try to think you have a great hand and risk it all.

[Archbob]

Originally Posted by Forgive Darkness

For low pairs I would check often and maybe raise slighty and see how the flop looks before making any serious moves. Do not whatsoever try to think you have a great hand and risk it all.

Its not a great hand, but it may just be the best hand at the table. If you go all-in with like half a stack, its not a bad move. It will scare most people away and many times, you will be playing heads-up against 2 over cards which you have slightly better than a 50% against.

[flushroyale4]

If there are 6+ players at the table and you are out of position, you fold low pairs preflop. Like pokersme said, fold em and wait for another hand. With small pairs, you want to hit the set on the flop. So if it's cheap enough, call and see the flop. If you miss, check and be prepared to muck. If you hit, try to contain your excitement and bet.

Going all-in to buy the pot isn't a good idea unless you are really short-stacked and you have to take your shot at doubling up now. Otherwise, any call has you beat or 50/50. Risking all your chips on a coin toss or worse just to steal some blinds isn't worth it.

Good luck!