Limit Texas Holdem: A Pair as a Drawing Hand

Before describing playing lower top pair and middle and low pair, there is an important issue to be considered.

Made Hand or Drawing Hand?

One pair on the flop is considered a "made hand." However, that doesn't mean it can't improve. With two cards to come everyone left in the hand is drawing, whether you like it or not!

Positive Draws

There are some cards that can help you when you have a pair.

First, you are drawing for two pair.

Your Cards			The Board:

That is your kicker can be paired. In the above example, any seven will give you two pair.

Using the rule of four, (three multiplied by four) equals a twelve percent chance that you will pair your kicker by the river, and have two pair.

Second, you are drawing for trips.

That is you can get three of a kind. In the above example, another ace will give you trips.

Using the rule of four, (two outs multiplied by four) equals an eight percent chance that you will pair your kicker by the river, and have two pair.

Overall draw potential.

Thus, your overall chances of improving to two pair or trips is pretty good, twenty percent.

In addition, be aware of any straight draws or flush draws, even backdoor ones, that you might have. They also add value to "the drawing power" of your "made hand."

Negative Draws

When considering the texture of the board, you should always consider what the likely draws against you might be. These can be considered "negative" draws, bringing you cards you don't wish to see. Knowing how likely it is that these negative cards will fall, can help you make wise betting decisions.

Your Cards			The Board:

In this scenario, we have to worry about the flush.

The remaining spades...

= 13 (total spades in deck) - 2 (spades that we can see) = 11 spades

However, to beat us, two of those spades would have to be in a single opponent's hand. Making spades to worry about, two less. 11-2 =9.

So, using the rule of 2.2 we know that (nine multiplied by 2.2) equals a twenty percent chance that we might be facing a flush at the river. This is the same as if we were working the draw out for ourselves.

But remember, even if a spade falls, none of our opponents may hold two spades, so the danger of a flush is far less than twenty percent.

In no-limit holdem you have much more power to punish opponents who are drawing against you because you can increase the size of the bet they need to call, giving them "incorrect odds" to chase. In limit holdem, you are stuck making a standard bet, and having them call "correctly" in most cases.

Always be aware of the possible negative draws, and their probabilities of hitting--it will make you a far better player.

Playing Moderately High Top Pairs