How to Play Pocket 10 in Poker

Introduction

In this article, we will learn how to play Pocket Tens (10-10) in Texas Hold'em Poker. Pocket Tens are a strong hand, but they can also be tricky to play because they are not the absolute best ones, especially against high cards like Aces, Kings or Queens.

We will explore strategies for playing with pocket tens in typical pre-flop situations. We will also learn a few tips for playing pocket tens post-flop, where it is crucial to modify your strategy based on the cards that appear and your opponents' actions.

We will examine when to be aggressive and when to play it safe, helping you improve your game with Pocket Tens and boosting your chances of winning at the poker table.

Texas Holdem – How to Play 10,10

Pocket tens are the highest of the middle pairs in the poker game. However, they are not strong enough to prevail over the face cards, so it is always tricky how to handle them. If we look at a list of top ten starting poker hands, TNT, as pocket tens are fondly called, will surely feature in the middle. They are strong and are only overruled on a 4-1 edge.

How To Play Pocket Tens in Common Preflop Scenarios

Unopened pots

Pocket Tens (TT) is a strong hand in itself. Hence, it is recommended that you always raise the preflop with this hand. Similar to hand AQ unsuited, this hand should never be limped with and should be played assertively.

As per the table below, pocket tens can be raised from any position at the poker table.

Against a raise

When holding pocket tens and facing a raise from another player, you should go for a re-raise. Even against a 3-bet calling range, pocket tens stand pretty strong.

Even against a 4-bet range, when you already have a 3-bet, you can call it pocket tens like any other pocket pair has a higher equity value than some of the hands like QQ, QK, QA and AK.

Like other pocket pairs, pocket ten is a hand that works great against multiway pots as well as one-on-one heads-up pots. The reason for this strength is the ability of the pocket pairs to form three-of-a-kind more frequently, almost every 11 out of 100 times.

Against a 3-bet

Against a 3-bet, if you are sitting in a later position, it is quite advantageous, especially when playing against an aggressive 3-bettor. In the preflop situation, if you have seen that the 3-bettor is either aggressive or someone who easily folds under pressure, you must take advantage of them and make a 4-bet.

During a post-flop situation, 4-betting can become tricky. You must consider your opponents' playing style and call it back if you feel confident about your hand.

Against a 4-Bet

As mentioned above, pocket tens have higher equity (36%) than QQ, QK, QA and AK, even when playing with an extremely tight hand range. Hence, if you are sitting in the position, you must call a 4-bet unless they have made the 4-bet with an extremely high value and seem like a conservative player.

5 Tips for Playing Pocket Tens Postflop

• Don’t get too attached to your hand.

For example, if you hold pocket tens and the flop turns out to be A, 9, 4, all belonging to different suits, you are stuck with pocket tens, and your opponent might be making a hand better than yours. Hence, you should never get overly attached and evaluate them based on the table's overall scenario.

• Play tight after calling a 4-bet when the flop comes ace or king-high.

While facing a 4-bet, you should consider folding or playing tight even if your opponent offers huge pot odds with a comparatively smaller bet size.

• Do not slow-play when you hit a set multiway.

You must never raise slowly when you have hit a three-of-a-kind hand in a multiway table. If you do so, you are letting your opponents get away with cheaper pot sizes. Hence, unless you see that the pot will become a flush or a straight in the later streets, you should always bet hard and keep your opponents on their toes.

• If the turn makes your hand into a second pair, slow down and go for pot control.

If you have a pocket tens and the flop turns out such that your tens remain the overcard, then if you bet and your opponent calls, you might be feeling good about it.

But if any card higher than 10 (like a Jack/Queen/King/Ace) opens up in the turn round, then the value of your pocket tens drops relatively quickly.

Now, in this situation, you should focus immensely on controlling the pot size and resort to checking instead of calling. If you face a bet again, you can also try to call max for another round to catch their bluffs.

• You can slow-play when you hit the top set out of position in a 3-bet or 4-bet pot.

When you hold a top Three-of-a-Kind (which means you have a top set with the highest possible cards on the board), you significantly reduce the chances that your opponent holds strong hands that might call your bets on the flop. This is because you already have two top cards, making it less likely they hold anything stronger than you.

In the scenarios where there's been a 3-bet or 4-bet already, the stack-to-pot ratio is usually lower. As a result, it is easier to get all your chips in by the time the river arrives, so you don’t need to inflate the pot on the flop as much as you would in a single-raised pot. You have the flexibility to initiate betting on the later streets without worrying as much about pot size right away. This strategy works if you are sitting out of the position.

The strategy changes if you play with a top set while sitting in the position. Being in position means you get to act after your opponent, allowing you the advantage of observing their actions first. In this case, you should generally choose to bet. By doing so, you protect your hand against potential high cards that may come out on the turn, like an ace, king, or queen. So, betting in position is the better move to maximize your winnings.

Raise! Rather, go all in!

As a simple poker tip in Texas Hold’em, it is best to consider the number of people in the hand when you see 10s as your hole cards. If it is a less than five-people table, then it is best to raise and get the over cards out of the way. If you weigh or raise or even go all in if you are on-chip average, you might manage to go heads up, giving you a very good chance. But any over-pair that you get on the flop might mean doom.

Conclusion

Playing Pocket Tens in Texas Hold'em requires careful pre-flop and post-flop strategy. It is important to be aggressive pre-flop, raising whenever possible, especially in unopened pots. Post-flop play requires evaluating the community cards carefully. By maintaining a balance of aggression and caution, you can enhance your overall poker game with Pocket Tens.