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How to Play Pocket 5’s

Playing Pocket Five’s Pre-Flop is a decision that is not always easy to make. The choice to play Pocket Five’s Pre-Flop relies very much on the situation at hand. To put it simply, you may hit another 5 on the Flop and have a very strong hand to take to the showdown; or you may find no help on the board, and end up with a heavy chip loss.

If playing Pocket Five’s Pre-Flop, you should be at a 6-seater table at best. The more opponents you have, the less chance your cards will hold up. If taking on a full table of 9 or 10 players, chances are someone will hit a stronger hand before it’s over. Even if you do improve to a Set of Five’s, a Straight or Flush could wipe you out.

If you want to play Pocket Five’s Pre-Flop, you have 3 options…

Call/Bet Low to see the Flop
From any position, you can Call the Big Blind, or a very small Raise, being as conservative as possible with your chips to see if the flop improves you Pocket Five’s. If the Flop fails to improve your holdings, don’t expect the Turn or River to do any better. Fold out, accepting the minimum losses.

Semi-Bluff
A Semi-Bluff is much like a Bluff, except that you actually have something to fall back on. To attempt the Semi-Bluff, you can place a medium Raise in hopes scaring your opponents away from the pot. If you can narrow the field to a single competitor, your chances are much greater at winning with Pocket Five’s.

Semi-Bluffs are most effective from late position, when you have had the opportunity to read your opponents. If previous bettors are folding out early, or limping in (Calling the Blind), a bluff has a better chance for success. If early position bettors are Raising, it may be wise to Fold your Pocket Five’s Pre-Flop.

Play Heads-Up
When you’re taking on a single opponent on the felt, Pocket Five’s retain a lot of value Pre-Flop. Most of the marginal hands you are told to fold in a Starting Hand strategy guide become playable. We mentioned earlier that the less foes you have to deal with, the better Pocket Five’s become Pre-Flop. Heads-Up is the best possible situation.

Even if you move on with Pocket Five’s out of the gate, and the Flop does not improve your hand, you could still take down the hand. If a scare card falls on the Flop, like and Ace or King, you can bluff with a Raise. It is very important to be able to read your opponent in this kind of situation, however. By discovering what kind of player they are – tight, loose, passive, aggressive – you can usually predict his next move and/or reaction to your maneuvers. Use this knowledge to your advantage and you’ll know exactly what to do with Pocket Five’s Pre-Flop.

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