Betting on the Border
Online poker hands are ranked from high to low according to the probability of a player getting the appropriate cards at the casino to make a flush, a straight, trips or a pair. And though a pair can be a winner, small pairs are often beat as more cards materialize. A small pair that includes cards from 2 through 5 can be considered “borderline” when making a betting decision.
Small pairs almost never play well from early position. Betting on this type of borderline hand in front of other players is risky. Players holding a low ranked pocket pair are hoping to make trips on the flop, but it’s a long shot since there are only two cards in the deck that can complete your set of three. If you’re holding pocket twos through fives, it’s almost certain they will be beat once the flop hits the board without the third set card.
When deciding to whether to play your borderline cards, position and opponents’ playing styles must dictate your decision. Early position is especially unfavorable for borderline hands, even with a table full of passive online pokerplayers. Late position might offer some opportunity to play borderline cards if other players have folded in front of you, narrowing the field.
Focus on those still betting behind you. If they have been passive callers or tight rocks, you could call the blind and hope for a good flop. But if there are aggressive players behind you, your borderline hand will probably wind up costing you a bet, and then you’ll have to fold to a raise without seeing a flop.
