Poker: How to make the most of a so-so hand

August 1, 2008

Playing middle pairs can be a tricky proposition, especially when the board pairs or anovercard comes, but if you figure out what specific bets mean from specific players, you can make the most of a so-so hand.

At the $15,000-buy-in Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Las Vegas’ Bellagio in 2007, Erick Lindgren picked up pocket 9s under the gun. With blinds at $800-$1,600 plus a $200 ante, Lindgren, an aggressive pro, raised to $4,500.

“I was raising to thin the field and mix it up,” said Lindgren, winner of two World Poker Tour titles.

Three players in late position called, as did Raymond Davis in the big blind.

“When I got four callers,” Lindgren said, “I wanted to flop a 9.”