frank, i believe statistcally the 5/5 has about a 51-52% chance of winning this hand, so you can see its about even.... frank watch the travel channel each wed night from 9-11 est... they have a tourney each week... also frank, it depends on how many are left in the hand,, in limit holdem, id hate to have a pair of fives and about 4 or 5 others see the flop,, in this case- only a 5 helps you and chances are some of the other players will pair and beat you..... however if its heads up poker, as in the final two of a tourney, then the 5/5's are much stouter..
Based on my live playing in the past 10 years, I can tell you that the pair pf 5's sucks in my book. Now it ALL depends on whether you are playing with at least 5 other players. If you have AT least 5 opponents, then you will lose the pair of 5's I would say about 75% of the time.
The hand that excites me the most is the Ace/ king. Or obviously the ace/ace is nice as well.
But in my book the best hand to have is the ace/king same suit.
You will see people going all in after the flop with the a pair of kings and they will lose quite a bit of the time to the pair of aces if you guys have the balls to stay
The hand that excites me the most is the Ace/ king. Or obviously the ace/ace is nice as well.
But in my book the best hand to have is the ace/king same suit.
You will see people going all in after the flop with the a pair of kings and they will lose quite a bit of the time to the pair of aces if you guys have the balls to stay
I should add a few points here. Well the main thing to consider is how many people you are playing with when you have that pair of 5's BEFORE the flop. The more players playing, the lower your chances become in winning the hand.
I can tell you that I cringe when I get even a pair of 9's. Those damn 9's seem to get beat about 90% of the time when I am playing to a higher pair, straight or flush!!!
Now the key thing to hold'em anyway is BLUFFING!!! Hell you see the guys on TV betting a shitload with absolutely nothing so they can steal a win. Now lets say that you are playing with 10 players. You get one of hte last bets before the flop and 4 of hte players folded or more. Then you may consider betting big as a small "bluff". Well it isnt really a bluff since you may have a 25% chance of winning anyway if someone doesnt scare you away. But that in itself is the main problem with a pair in the hole lower than lets say 9's. Other guys will bet big and you may have the balls to take the chance and go for the 3 of a kind. I say fold on anything lower than a pair of 9's if more than 4 players stay in! You will most definitely lose unless you can go all in at which case most of them will fold
I can tell you that I cringe when I get even a pair of 9's. Those damn 9's seem to get beat about 90% of the time when I am playing to a higher pair, straight or flush!!!
Now the key thing to hold'em anyway is BLUFFING!!! Hell you see the guys on TV betting a shitload with absolutely nothing so they can steal a win. Now lets say that you are playing with 10 players. You get one of hte last bets before the flop and 4 of hte players folded or more. Then you may consider betting big as a small "bluff". Well it isnt really a bluff since you may have a 25% chance of winning anyway if someone doesnt scare you away. But that in itself is the main problem with a pair in the hole lower than lets say 9's. Other guys will bet big and you may have the balls to take the chance and go for the 3 of a kind. I say fold on anything lower than a pair of 9's if more than 4 players stay in! You will most definitely lose unless you can go all in at which case most of them will fold
FOLKS- First off, I am a very average hold'em player. However, I have played a ton of hours at this game and break roughly even in the casino, which is good considering the rake and tipping. Although each situation is different, A-10 suited is much better than 5-5. In David Skalnsky's famous HOLD'EM POKER book, he ranks each hand. He ranks A-10 suited as the 11th best hand and 5-5 as the 41st best hand........this is a big difference. He has only A-A,K-K,Q-Q, AND J-J has pairs being higher than A-10 suited.
Good luck batpokers.
Good luck batpokers.
depends on the game. are we talking NL? 5/10 hold em at loose table. 10/20 at a tight table? I usually play 5/10 at a pretty loose table(5 callers preflop) I'll take the A10 in that situation, you have to be good to play small pairs, need to throw them away if you miss the flop. DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR SMALL POCKET PAIR, THROW IT AWAY!
As a matter of fact, I hate any pair about below a pair of 9's!!! You will go broke trying to chase 3 off a kind with anything lower than a pair of 9's. Oh yes, and 2 pair doesnt count since EVERYONE else will also have at least 2 pair and their high pair will be higher than yours!
But with any pair, I guess that you can "bluff" BEFORE the flop and maybe you will cut out almost all of the players so then you have a fighting shot at the 50/50 chance to win. THE PROBLEM with that is that the guys with teh king and aces will stay in. So then you are betting up a storm and then all of a sudden the river rolls around and someone gets a king or an ace. And dont forget that with a pair lower than 9's, someone else coudl have a higher pair as well!!
But with any pair, I guess that you can "bluff" BEFORE the flop and maybe you will cut out almost all of the players so then you have a fighting shot at the 50/50 chance to win. THE PROBLEM with that is that the guys with teh king and aces will stay in. So then you are betting up a storm and then all of a sudden the river rolls around and someone gets a king or an ace. And dont forget that with a pair lower than 9's, someone else coudl have a higher pair as well!!
>small pairs, need to throw them away if
>you miss the flop. DO NOT FALL IN LOVE
>WITH YOUR SMALL POCKET PAIR, THROW IT AWAY!
That is why, of the two, I prefer 55. If a 3rd FIVE isnt on the flop then fold... The suited AT can suck you in all the way to 5th street.
Not to mention: It is proper to fold the 55 BEFORE the flop in some situations.
>you miss the flop. DO NOT FALL IN LOVE
>WITH YOUR SMALL POCKET PAIR, THROW IT AWAY!
That is why, of the two, I prefer 55. If a 3rd FIVE isnt on the flop then fold... The suited AT can suck you in all the way to 5th street.
Not to mention: It is proper to fold the 55 BEFORE the flop in some situations.
>>>Not to mention: It is proper to fold the 55 BEFORE the flop in some situations.<<<<
Absolutely. Lots of times where I can see no reason to play 5-5.
Good question in the thread on A-10 or 5-5. I didn't read all the answers yet but off the top of my head I think some of it depends a lot on what sort of line-up you are in, what stakes you are playing, what kind of position you have etc.....
I found one of the biggest places I was losing money when I started was with small pocket pairs and playing Ace small suited. I had to really work at being aware I was playing these hands poorly to stop the bleeding of the bankroll.......
Absolutely. Lots of times where I can see no reason to play 5-5.
Good question in the thread on A-10 or 5-5. I didn't read all the answers yet but off the top of my head I think some of it depends a lot on what sort of line-up you are in, what stakes you are playing, what kind of position you have etc.....
I found one of the biggest places I was losing money when I started was with small pocket pairs and playing Ace small suited. I had to really work at being aware I was playing these hands poorly to stop the bleeding of the bankroll.......
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Not to mention: It is proper to fold the 55 BEFORE the flop in some situations. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Probably pretty close to 45% incl. blinds.
Assuming a full, looser than average game, I think calling a raise in late position is bad, I think even limp/call fr middle position is bad, wouldn't even think about it in early postion.
Tighter table I may call a raise in late position, if it will leave me heads up with the raiser, I might raise from late position with it, if there's a chance of the blinds laying down.
Other than that it's a limp from late position and pray for a miracle type of hand. AT least in my humble opinion.
[This message was edited by Sodium Pentethol V on June 12, 2003 at 12:16 AM.]
Probably pretty close to 45% incl. blinds.
Assuming a full, looser than average game, I think calling a raise in late position is bad, I think even limp/call fr middle position is bad, wouldn't even think about it in early postion.
Tighter table I may call a raise in late position, if it will leave me heads up with the raiser, I might raise from late position with it, if there's a chance of the blinds laying down.
Other than that it's a limp from late position and pray for a miracle type of hand. AT least in my humble opinion.
[This message was edited by Sodium Pentethol V on June 12, 2003 at 12:16 AM.]
