Beginner How to Adjust Your Strategy Against Different Types of Opponents With Small Pocket Pairs URL has been copied successfully! Small pocket pairs are never a guaranteed win, but can quietly build big pots with little risk Playing small pocket pairs—twos through sixes—can be a powerful part of your poker strategy, but how you use them should depend on the type of player sitting across from you. Against different opponents, these hands can either be worth a pre-flop call or a quick fold. Adjusting your approach based on tendencies can make a big difference in how profitable these hands become. Against tight players who don’t enter many pots, small pocket pairs are best used for set mining. If stacks are deep enough and you can see the flop without committing too much of your own, the goal is simple: hit a set and try to win a big pot. These opponents aren’t likely to bluff or pay off light, so if you miss the flop, it’s usually best to check-fold unless there’s a real reason to continue. When facing loose and aggressive players, you have more options. These players love to bet and put pressure on weak hands, which means if you hit your set, they’re more likely to keep firing with worse. But be careful—just calling pre-flop against someone who rarely folds could be costly if you miss. Sometimes a pre-flop raise or even a reraise can help disguise your hand, especially if you’re in position. This can make them think you’re playing back with a wider range and encourage them to keep barreling post-flop. Against passive players, small pairs can actually be played a bit more straightforwardly. These players don’t bluff much, so if they start putting money in the pot, they usually have something. If they’re calling stations, though, it’s worth betting for value when you do hit your set.