Let's Finish Off Those Pesky Small Pairs

Hi. Come on in. I picked up some ribs. It's a good thing you're wearing a red shirt. Dig in.

Among the most common errors committed by lower-limit players in seven-card stud is overplaying small and medium pairs. Here are more of my thoughts in that area.

Generally, when you hold a small or medium pair on third street and one of your pair cards is showing on the board, you should pass – unless your kicker is an overcard to the board and is no smaller than a queen. That overcard gives you the possibility of making the highest two pair. You will also improve to trips if you catch the last available card of your rank.

The biggest factor in determining whether to play a pair with one of your cards already out is your position in relation to where that card is on the board.

Let's say I have a pair of sevens. If my needed 7 is in front of me (must act before I act) and plays, I'm gone. The fact that he played indicates a strong possibility he has the last 7 in the hole, especially if my two sevens are hidden – because he can't know his sevens are dead. If he folds, I can figure that he doesn't have another 7, so I can play – assuming that I have a big overcard.

However, if my needed 7 is to my left, and must act after I do, I don't know if he's going to play or not. I don't have enough information to make a correct decision. So, I'll take a brief moment to peripherally glance to my left to see if I can pick up a clue as to his intentions. Often, you can see a player reaching for his chips long before the action gets to him. Or, you can tell he is ready to toss his hand in when it's his turn to act. If he indicates that he intends to fold, I will play. If he is reaching for his chips, I will fold. And if I can't tell either way, I have to fold because of my lack of information.

You've noticed the stress put on high kickers in determining whether many of your hands are playable. Keep in mind that seven-card stud is a game of live cards and high kickers.

Here's another example: Suppose you put your opponent on a pair of jacks while you hold a medium pair. For you to play, you must have an ace, king, or queen in the hole for a kicker. You don't want it to be your upcard because you will probably have to act first on fourth street. Since your hand is not strong enough to bet, you'll have to check, showing weakness. A savvy opponent will jump all over that, betting on every card. Unless you get immediate, significant improvement, you'll be in the position of checking and calling, which is indeed a weak, meek (and generally losing) way to play poker.

So, as a general summary – small or medium pairs should be played conservatively at these limits, with a lot of consideration given to big cards as kickers. Tend not to call raises unless you have a specific profitable-looking situation.

Generally speaking, small pairs are played much the same as middle pairs, except that, of course, they are more vulnerable. You'll have to be more alert to when you think you are beat. And, of course, it's more likely that a pair of threes is going to be outrun than a pair of eights.

Of prime importance again (still) is your kicker: Big! The bigger the better. I'll repeat: You can't make a big two pair if you start with a small kicker. Any improvement on fourth street is more likely to be to two pair than trips. Assuming your cards are live, there are three cards you can catch to make two pair and two cards to make trips.

Paste this on your bathroom mirror: Small pairs almost always play better if they are hidden, mostly because of the surprise value when you make trips.

With your small pair in the hole, your kicker is your upcard, and if you have been paying any attention at all, it will be big. Hopefully, it's an overcard to the board. This type of hand is among the most difficult for your opponents to read. If you have the biggest upcard and don't raise, they will most likely put you on a drawing hand – a big straight or high flush draw. When you make trips on fourth street with the same suit as your big doorcard, most opponents at the low and medium limits will think you are on a flush draw. You'll have a surprise for them later on.

When you pair your doorcard on fourth street, they may misread you again, probably putting you on a three-flush with a big pair.

A small pair with a small kicker is playable, but not very often. One such instance is in late position with no danger of a raise – and your cards are (of course) absolutely live!

The red shirt didn't help. You're a mess. Take the last of those ribs and kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Call 1-800-548-6177 Ext. 03.