Pocket twos with awkward stack size

[Chipless Wonder]

I'll often limp with pocket twos and hope to flop a set.

Other times, if I'm short-stacked, and it folds to me on the button, I'll push all-in.

Other times, if I'm deep-stacked, and it folds to me in late position, I'll put in a normal sized raise.

Tonight I picked up pocket twos in a live tournament, it was folded to me, and I found myself in an awkward spot because of my chip stack. The blinds were 150/300 and I had 16 BB with 4,850.

I sure didn't want to call in this spot because there aren't many flops that I'm going to like. And I don't have enough chips to call a normal sized raise.

I didn't want to raise because it would be too easy for one of the blinds to play back at me with my stack size, and then I'd have to fold.

I didn't want to go all-in because I had too many chips and half the hands that could call me would have me crushed.

So what would you do with pocket twos if it's folded to you on the button and you have 16 BB?

[niner1984]

i limp and try to win the pot if an ace or king hits the board or if someone loves me i hit a set.

[SparX]

Scott,

this depends on a list of variables too long to list here, but in general with this stack size you are never raise/folding, so any hand you play here should be with the intention of getting it all in.

however, the standard play is to shove here if there are antes (assuming a 50 ante the pot would double in size and you could add 20% to your stack with folds and have about 40-45% equity against a reasonable calling range) and fold if there are no antes unless the blinds are complete nits.

[Ivan_Drago45]

Good post, Scott. This is something I have had trouble with for a while and I still don't really know what to do. Lately, if I am at a table where people seem pretty excited about the idea of calling an all in, I just fold and look for a better spot. If its a table where people seem to only call with a decent hand, then I push and hope for the best. I like what Sparx said about pushing if there are antes and folding otherwise. I think I am going to try that strategy.

[Goldnutz69]

I fold in this spot, but as you all know I'm a nit.