Smaller two pair hands, such as 9s over 3s, are deceptive hands in draw poker. You must play them carefully. At first glance, a holding of two small pairs appears to be a strong hand with good winning possibilities. In reality, these cards spell trouble.
While a small two pair may stand tall before the draw, against three players trying to improve as well, that hand in fact becomes an underdog. If you're facing bets and raises before the draw and more bets after it, your small two pair (with 11-1 odds against improving) starts looking even smaller.
Fold two small pairs in early position if the pot is opened ahead of you, or if you're in late position and three or more players are in the pot. In last position, against just one or two players, raise, and try to force them out.
THE DRAW
When you're drawing to a pair, your best odds of improving is to take a three-card draw. Sometimes, however, holding a kicker, an extra card to a pair, can be a powerful bluffing tool. Players have to suspect your two-card draw for three-of-a-kind.
Occasionally, using the kicker in this fashion can really work to your advantage.
Drawing one card to a three-of-a-kind is a good bluffing strategy as well. Let's say you're playing a $5-$ 10 game. The first two players check and the third player opens betting with a $5 bet. The next player folds. You're in the next seat holding three 8s, and you raise the opener $5. Players fold in turn around the table. Only the opener calls your bet. He goes first and draws one card. You take one card as well.
After the draw, the opener bets $10, probably holding kings or aces up and figuring you for a lower two pair. You raise $10, banking on the 11-1 odds against his improving. He calls. Then he quietly folds his cards after you turn over your three 8s.
Fold four-flushes and four-straights if they don't improve at the draw.
The dealer has a decisive advantage in draw poker, since he acts last. With marginal hands, he can come in the pot cheaply. He can also fold if the action is too stiff. He's in a great position to bluff, and, being the last to draw, he can make use of his drawing strategy to gain a powerful edge. Due to the dealer's big positional advantage, draw poker is an excellent choice in dealer's choice games.
Play alertly and apply the winning strategies of poker to gain an advantage over your opponents and be a winner at draw poker.
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