There are 2 different strategies that you can use with a medium pocket pair. The first one is to raise more poker chips and try to bully most of your opponents to fold. The lesser the opposition you have when you get to the flop the better, and if you can eliminate all but one player from seeing the flop then you have a great chance of Taking the hand.

This only works in late position on the poker table; if you raise early on and get re-raised or two or three callers, you could be in alot of trouble and your middle pair is extremelyultimately unlikely to turn out to be a winner.

The second strategy is accepted by most as being the best way for playing pocket pairs which are middle or low in value. What you do here is limp in (ie call your opponent’s unraised bets) and then hope that you hit a set (3 of a kind) on the flop.

3 eights is a very powerful hand and it offers the possibility of slow playing if the circumstances are right, ie the pot is being raised by another player. The great thing about this hand is that it’s disguised, your opponents will very rarely put you on triples and there is even a possibility of a pair on the board, which would give you an almost unassailable full house.

So the message is clearly;  to tread cautiously with your pocket-sized and medium pocket pairs. Remember that the lesser the pair then winning the pot becomes less of a chance and always be prepared to fold your pair if you’re doubtful, or you’ll have to re-buy poker chips to sit back down.