Playing medium pairs pre-flop

Medium pocket pairs are anything from 7-7 through to T-T and fall into that tricky area of being a good starting hand but not great. Although some consider Jacks to be a medium pair I’d say those people are too tight, particularly in the ring game forum.

Medium pairs are significantly easier to play than small pairs as they flop with only one overcard – or none – a much higher proportion of the time. At the same time, they cannot be lumped together as easily. While there isn’t a huge amount of difference between 2-2 and 6-6, in medium pairs there is a subtle but definite difference in their strengths; for example 7-7 is obviously not the same as T-T.

Generally, the more mediocre middling pairs will play better multi-way, whereas T-T, and to a lesser extent 9-9, are strong enough to pull fancier and more aggressive actions with. Making squeezes pre-flop with T-T and 9-9 is fine as long as you are prepared to get it all-in against your more LAG opponents (who could be pushing back with a big Ace, smaller pair, or some kind of suited connector). On the other hand, squeeze-folding 9-9 pre-flop against a monkey is about as far from winning poker as you can get.

Knowing where you stand

Because medium pocket pairs will put you in marginal situations a large amount of the time, you need to exert a very strong sense of positional awareness. These hands will make money in position (assuming you are good and play well) but it is really hard to minimise your losses and maximise your winnings if you’re trying to defend them out of position. Before you elect to call with these hands pre-flop, consider whether three-betting (making another raise) would be a better option. If you will be out of position post-flop, three-betting is often preferable. If you will be in position, flat-calling may be fine.

If the pot is multi-way, you should also be much more inclined to call. For a start, you will get blown off the best hand less often, as the multi-way action protects you from bluffs from the original raiser. When there are more players involved in the pot the original raiser will continuation-bet less frequently and will be forced to play more ‘honestly’. Also, if you flop a monster you will be more likely to find an opponent who has hit something and is willing to pay you off. If the action is likely to be heads-up or three-way, you should favour three-betting more often.

As always, each situation must be considered on its own merits. But when it comes to tricky medium pairs, position and number of opponents are more crucial than ever.