I've liked the discussion on playing Axs, as that seems to be one of those marginal situations that a lot of players aren't sure about.

Here's another area, at least for me, that has fallen into that same marginal area, and I'm beginning to wonder if I should start playing it differently. I'll be sitting there in EP or early MP, look down, and see a small pocket pair (22, 33, 44, and maybe 55). Previously, I'd just automatically limp these, and if someone raises behind me, call the raise. Here's why I'm wondering if that's the best idea -

* When the flop misses you (which will be most of the time), it's going to miss high, and it's very likely that you don't have high pair, which means that you are drawing to two outs to improve.

* When you flop your set, it's going to be bottom set more often than not, and that's going to be a lot more vulnerable than a set with high cards.

* When playing EP, there's a chance (how much depends on the table) that someone will raise behind you, and now you're having to pay 2 SB to see a flop that you will probably check/fold after seeing.

* These pairs are not going to win unimproved. In the 8K hands I've played so far, I've seen pocket dueces win unimproved exactly once.

* As I look at the chart at , I see that pocket pairs below 66/77 have -EV from early position, and don't look that great from the later positions, either.

So, how do you experts out there play this?

I treat them like I do Ax suited, raise late to try and take blinds or get heads up (where they are probably like Ax in % to win). Or I will call with a couple limpers, and sometimes raise to change things up (and possiblity to take a free turn depending on what the flop brings).

Fold them in EP unless you have reason to believe its going to be a family pot, inwhich case limp - and of course fold if you dont hit