Play any pair in an unraised pot with at least five callers. If you hold a pair you will flop a set about 11.76 percent of the time. This means the odds are 7.5-to-l against you. With five callers you are getting close to proper odds. If you flop a set, you will have a big hand and have the advantage of acting late in the round. If there are six or more players in the hand, you can call one raise. Don't cold call two raises with a small pair, and be careful if the raise came from an early position player. With less than six players, fold if raised in front.

• Medium Poker Pairs (0)
• Raise In Poker (0)
• Poker And Suited Ace (0)

Pocket 9s, 8s, and 7s are considered medium pairs. They are not the strongest pairs you can start with and they require you to play them a little selectively. You have to be extremely careful when the flop brings overcards.

You will usually need to improve these pairs on the flop to have them hold up. When you start with a medium or small pocket pair, your chance for improving is a little more limited. You will need to flop a set in most cases for a winning hand. If the pot has been raised before it is your turn to act, you should probably pass on these medium pairs.

I tend to play conservatively before the flop and will fold this hand if it is raised. If you routinely play this hand, calling two or more bets, then you will lose more in the long run. With these pairs if you don't flop a set or straight draw, you will have to release them if the flop contains overcards and there is a bet. One or more over-cards will flop more than 90 percent of the time.

• Small Poker Pairs (0)
• Raise In Poker (0)
• Poker And Suited Ace (0)