Everyone knows that they should play the most powerful pairs aggressively pre-flop. Right? Not necessarily.
Let's look at the pairs one at a time and find the Power Plays.
AA, KK, and QQ
Obviously a very powerful hand. These are usually played for a high-level raise. That is a correct play if you are in an early betting position, especially if the table is soft. It is also correct if you are in a late position and there are several players already in the pot. It is an even better play regardless of where you are sitting if there are one or more raises in front of you.
The only time it is right to play this hand with something less than an aggressive raise is if you are in late position and there are few or no players in the pot in front of you. At this point you can slow play the hand and call the big blind or make a minimal raise. The minimal raise is especially powerful if the small and/or large blinds are very soft players and stay in regardless of their cards.
Be careful of players acting in the same way if you have the QQ. With QQ watch very carefully how players react to the flop if it includes a K or an A and no Q.
JJ, 1010, 99
Because these hands can be easily beaten, they do not provide many Power Plays. Generally they should be played for the minimum raise. They should never be slow played. You can call a raise before you if you are in an early position but you should re-raise an early position raise if you are in late position.
The best Power Play comes when you are in late position and all or most of those in front of you have folded or only called. In this case, you should make the maximum raise and hope for the best.
88, 77, 66, 55
Not a powerful hand. Make the minimum raise and hope for the best. If you are in late betting order and there are no raises, make the minimum raise. If you are late and there is a raise in front of you from a strong player, fold. If there is a re-raise in front of you, fold regardless of the strength of the player.
44, 33, 22
Because these hands are pretty weak, you should either fold or raise. Never call. If you smell weakness at the table, make a large raise because that is a Power Play. If you smell strength, fold.
If you fold these hands because you think there is strength at the table, take the chips you would have bet to call and put them in your pocket. At the end of the night, regardless of whether you are a winner or a loser, you will be way ahead and that makes this a Power Play.
