One of the toughest decisions in Texas Holdem is to know the best way to play a small pocket pair.
Should I raise before the flop and try to win the hand uncontested? - This way I won't have to worry about overcards that are sure to appear on the flop.
Should I just fold assuming that my hand won't be the best after the river? - This way I can save money for when I have a better starting hand.
Should I try to see the flop as cheaply as possible and see what develops? - This way I can take a look at three more cards without having to put too much of my chip stack at risk.
Everyone who plays Texas Holdem knows that Ace-King is one of the very best starting hands. But, it is just that, a starting hand. It's only 2 cards of a 7 card equation. In nearly every situation, you want to come out firing with AK as your hole cards. (The exception would be when faced with a big raise from an early position bettor.) When the flop comes, you need to reassess your hand and think things through before you just assume your overcards are best.
Many times when players are sitting with a short stack in Texas Holdem tournament, panic sets in and they make a bad move that takes them out of the tournament. When you are on a short stack, just sit back and relax. Take a deep breath and think only positive thoughts. Being on the short stack doesn't mean that you are about to be eliminated from the tournament. It just means that you need to play smart and find a way to get more chips and get yourself back into contention.
When you are sitting down for a nice warm breakfast, a short stack can be a wonderful way to start the day. When you are sitting at the table in a Texas Holdem tournament, the short stack has a whole different meaning and playing it wrong can bring your day to a heartbreaking end. Being on the short stack, means you are the player at the table with the least chips remaining. The other players are hoping you drop out next so they can either move closer to the money or further up the standings.
