Typically, with low pockets pairs in early positions I just call the minimum bet hoping I could hit a set. Well, in late positions, I also normally do the same thing.

For my question, when the table is weak by which everybody is limping, can I use my small pockets aggressively? How about when the table is down to 5 handed due to many folds? Just yesterday, I read a poker book and from there I’ve found out that when that table gets down to four or five handed, I can, for whatever cause, raise my 2’s to make everyone fold or otherwise take one player heads up which is also helpful.

By the way, I would like also to ask something about strategy. In my game the other day, I have a caller then though not so sure, I opened the betting with a pot sized bet. Do you think it was a good idea? Was it helpful? Or else things could have been much better if tried other strategy?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you.

Matthew

Matthew,

Small pocket pairs typically work better as limping hands. Your goal in most cases is to hit a set. When you do, you will usually be paid off. When you’re playing 4 or 5 handed in NL, this doesn’t really change much. Stealing the blinds does not really buy you much in a cash game. If this was a tournament, then stealing the blinds has value.

In regards to your other question, there really isn’t enough information to give an intelligent answer. You made preflop raise in the size of the pot? What were you holding? Without more information it is tough to say.