Pocket Pair
What Does Pocket Pair Mean in Poker?
A pocket pair is a starting hand in poker where both of your hole cards are of the same rank, such as two aces or two kings.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Pocket Pair:
You’ll commonly hear “pocket pair” during hand discussions, strategy sessions, or when players are assessing starting hands in both live and online poker games.
In-Game Example:
Imagine you’re dealt a pair of 8 8 in a Texas Hold’em game. This is a pocket pair, and you might look to raise pre-flop to thin the field and protect your hand.
Strategy / Tips:
- Best Practice: When holding a pocket pair, consider the position and stack sizes to determine if aggression or caution is warranted.
- Common Mistake: Overcommitting to small pocket pairs when the board texture becomes unfavorable.
- Pro Tips: Use pocket pairs to set mine in multi-way pots, especially when deep-stacked, as they can lead to strong hidden hands like sets.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: Online, you might face more frequent 3-bets, requiring adjustments in your approach to pocket pairs.
Alternative names:
Pockets, Pair in the hole
FAQs:
- Q: What is the best pocket pair?
A: Pocket aces (A A) is the strongest starting hand in poker. - Q: How should I play a pocket pair in early position?
A: It’s often best to play pocket pairs aggressively in early position to reduce opponents and gain control of the pot.
