Low Pocket Pair -- Pre-Flop

Small pocket pairs, 2-2 through 7-7 are often overplayed pre-flop. This is the most common mistake I see beginers make. If your in early possition, (UTG - 3rd to act) I'd dump them, or limp if you have a decent stack. They are just not going to be profitable unless you hit your set. According to http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/odds1 , You have a 12% chance to get them on the flop, and if not on the flop? I round it up to 5% or 20:1 . You see here. Your pair just isnt likly to win. That is assuming no other player has one of your cards in thier hand.

Reason I dump these pre-flop is that unless I am already winning and trying to "gamble" on a limp, there is no reason to play these for profitablilty. You cant really call a raise, unless you put a weak player on AK or less, and then you'd have to re-raise that player to isolate and hope he doesnt pair up. (26% or 4:1 that he does) so even then your ahead but not by much. With the lowest pocket pairs, 2-2 - 5-5, if the board double pairs above your pocket pair you loose as well. While you must play your opponents, and can possibly win with them, they are defintly not profitable and begginers should stay away especcialy in early possition.