Filed under:
Middle Pairs and Top Kickers in Limit Holdem
A second pair or middle pair hand in limit holdem with a top kicker like an ace or a king can function as a bet hand, but most times they are better folded. The best way to avoid ending up with this hand is to play pre-flop tightly. The good news is that there are not many game situations wherein we are dealt these hands or where we find ourselves with very poor aces and kings.
With a middle pair and a top kicker we have 5 outs that can give us a two-pair, if not trips. If we try calling a particular bet on the flop and we have some good pot odds and a lucky hit to improve our hand, then this should make this round our round even with such pre-flop hands.
On the other hand, a middle pair without a top kicker is best played if we are heads up, otherwise we just fold. If we're tempted to check and call we shouldn't. It will be a better play just betting and raising or folding. If we have a nut draw having 8 outs or even more than that—like one nut straight draw with 2 over-cards, or a nut straight draw—just bet to harass the opponent, or raise or check-raise, instead of calling. Always remember to play aggressively to keep other players busily deciding. The fewer of them the better. We may even make them fold their good hands.
If we have an ace kicker with a nut flush, this gives us a total of 9 nut outs plus 3 outs of top-pairs—12 outs in all—we might be lucky to chance on a hit at the turn and river. Aces are given better plays if we hit and play tightly and aggressively. We can raise to enlarge the pot from late position with the help of others when there are many of them in the pot. With enough luck this may favor us a free card on the turn if the raise is checked to us and our hand has very slowly improved.
If players are in when the flop happens and we don't hit while holding over-cards like AK, AJ, KQ, AQ, we should fold. Remember not to often bet such hands against the flop using face cards and against many opponents.
In limit Holdem middle pairs and top kickers (or the lack of it) are played depending on what limit Holdem situation we have at pre-flop.