At a mid-limit Hold ‘Em game, the way I play a small pair depends on my position and the type of game I’m in.

In early position, I see a lot of people raise with a small pair. Chances are you’ll get one or more callers so a small pair is pretty dead. Instead I like to limp in. If the flop doesn’t go my way I can get out and only lose one bet. However, if I hit, I have a potential to win a big pot since no one can put me on a set.

In a late position I will raise if no one else has come in. I want to take the pot right there or face just one opponent. With one opponent and if they don’t have a pair, it’s almost equal as to who will win. Since the odds of 1-1 are right, it’s a good bet.

If others have already come in, I just limp in and hope to hit as I mentioned in the first paragraph above. If I don’t hit, I get out with a small loss. I have seen many players raise in a late position after 3-4 others players have come in. To me this is suicide since anyone with a pair may have you beat already. If no one has a pair, chances are one of the overcards will hit for them. In a sense you have only two outs and you need to hit to win.

Also remember, they could hit their pair also and then you really lose a lot if you hit at the same time.