small pocket early position

[j_infamous]

when do you call with small pocket? i try to limp in with them 66 or lower. if there is a raise when do you call? i try to make sure there is at least 2 more in the pot ( so at least 1 caller.) and what is your limit on calling? 3-4bb or more? any thoughts...

[Doug Fieselman]

when do you call with small pocket? i try to limp in with them 66 or lower. if there is a raise when do you call? i try to make sure there is at least 2 more in the pot ( so at least 1 caller.) and what is your limit on calling? 3-4bb or more? any thoughts...

Are you talking tournament or cash games? Early in tournaments, I play them much as you described - I don't mind limping in with small pocket pairs from early/middle position on a passive table. Late position I like to raise or just call if there is a limper or two (and sometimes raise depending on if the limpers are weak-tight and I think I can get a fold). Late in tournaments you really can't be limping with anything, and I generally avoid small pocket pairs from early/middle position unless stack sizes dictate and in those cases I'm usually just pushing. First in from late position, I'm usually raising small PPs.

In cash games, I pretty much do the same thing as I would early in a tournament.

Overall, my strategy with small pocket pairs from early/middle position is to see a cheap flop with hopefully a number of callers to increase my pot and implied odds and then try to hit a flop. From early/middle position, I'm playing hit a set or fold. If I'm in late position and first-in, I'm raising small PPs.

Of course, as with anything in poker, how you play any two cards depends on a variety of factors such as table dynamics (i.e. I won't limp small PPs on a loose-aggressive table), your opponents tendencies, your image, and stack sizes.

[j_infamous]

cash games mostly.

[apichee]

cash games mostly.

FR I limp all pocket pairs 77 and lower UTG-Hijack...6 Max, open all from any position.