What is a big pocket pair?

A large pocket pair is when the deal is double jacks or higher with your hole cards. This is a great way to begin a hand but it can also lead to becoming over confident Getting excited and screwing up this hand is a dumb ass move and some players should be down right ashamed

Big Pocket before the flop

Generally a big pocket will play better against less opponents. So, your first move should be eliminating the competition pre-flop. More than likely at this stage you are ahead of the other players. You don’t want them to see a cheap flog and risk it. After all, they might get lucky with two pairs or even trips and have you beat.

These circumstances should see you start by raising the pot. A standard raise is normally around three times the size of the big blind. If any player has limped in then add their limp in bet to your raise. For example, you are playing in a six-handed game where the blinds are $2/$5. You are the dealer and two players limp in before you. You are holding a pair of kings. You want to raise and your normal raise here would be $15 (three times the big blind). However, you also want to add in the two limpers, so your raise here should be $25.

Remember to examine the flop to see if there are straight or flush possibilities. Also check if an over-card to your pair has fallen. For example, if you are holding a pair of jacks, watch out for when a queen, king or ace falls on the board. Your raise could easily have been called by an opponent holding ace-queen, leaving you already beaten.
After the flop

If you are first to act you must stop and think about your opponent for a moment. Categorize and ask questions, like ‘how does he play his hands?’

Has he been playing with any two cards during the game, or has he only been entering pots with premium hands? If he happens to be a loose player, it may be time to risk a continuation bet and see what he does. On the other hand if he is a tight player, it may be time to slow down a bit and be cautious.

If you are last to act and your opponent checks, then the situation warrants a bet. Its possible he may be chasing a flush or a straight draw. You want to make it expensive for him to do so, a bet of half or two thirds of the pot might just do it. If he folds then its time to celebrate but please remember, you are only holding a high pair, which is pretty much the lowest hand in Holdem Poker.

If he calls your bet, then slow down because he might be holding trips or have made two pair.

On the turn

Once again information is needed on the turn. You need to think about the card and how it might complete other hands. If you feel like you’re beaten then ease up a bit. You are only holding a pair after all and the board is showing flush possibilities.  If your opponent is pushing a big chunk of chips to the middle of the table, you may be better off mucking your cards.

On the river

The same rules apply here like on the turn. The one important difference here is if you think your opponent was chasing a flush, it didn’t happen. At this point you may want to bet because more than likely your opponent will fold. However, your opponent may check or raise here too make you think he is holding two pair or trips. This is why knowing your opponents and closely observing is so important.

Ultimately, big pairs are strong at the start of a hand, but the more cards come out, the more their power fades. Your two Aces might feel powerful before the flop, but on a board that has a 7, 9, J, T and Q, you ain’t packing any heat.