by Zach Calantini-Miller

Created on: November 02, 2010

If you’re a tight player, “rock” as they are sometimes called, you’re probably sitting at the table waiting for quality hands. Premium or quality hands fall into several categories, but level 1 hands (the best) are big wired pocket pairs, such as Pocket Aces or Pocket Kings. The reason why these are such powerful starting hands is that you already have made a pair and you hold it, so you don’t need to pair up any cards on the flop to have a good hand. Yet, as strong as this advantage is, these hands are still vulnerable as it is, at the end of the day, still 1 PAIR, which is marginal at best in certain situations. Also, big pocket pairs play best against 1 or two opponents rather than 3-5 or more. So it’s best to raise off most of your opponents before the flop, keeping just 1 or 2 to pay you off with lower pairs. That’s the core strategy that you’ll want to employ each and every time you pick up one of this wired premium pairs. Slow playing them CAN work, but more likely you’ll end up losing a lot of money because it’s so tough to toss away these hands if you get raised after the flop. Play them carefully, but aggressively, and see if you can reach down to find the discipline needed to toss one of these away in the middle of a hand where you’re getting raised. Sounds easy, it’s but very tough to do in the heat of “battle”. Add in some feel when playing them to make sure you’re not up against a better hand, like trips or 2 pair.

            Doyle Brunson, the living legend of poker, once said in his book “Super System 1” that he’d rather get dealt A-K than pocket Aces, because with aces you’re more likely to win a small pot or lose a big one. With A-K it’s easier to decipher where you are in the hand, and if you don’t flop anything and someone bets, you just toss it no problem. It’s very tough to lay down aces! I know I already mentioned this, but it really is tough.

            Another problem with big pocket pairs is that you’re not really drawing at anything but trips. At least with a hand like A-J suited, you’re drawing at straights and flushes or two pair. With A-A you aren’’t likely to make a flush or straight. That’s why it’s so crucial that these premium hands be played correctly, and with the discipline to let go of them if you sense that you’re beat, no matter how difficult it is.

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