In poker, sometimes the hand you hold has differing potential depending upon the game you’re playing. What would be a great hand in one form of poker will, in essence, be junk in another discipline. In this continuing series of articles, we’ll examine particular hands and what strategies a player should use. Big Pairs - The Best Hand to Get? Most of the time when you peek at your hole cards and see a big pair - and in this instance, we’re looking at pocket aces through pocket jacks - you have to control the inclination to jump from your seat when you put your bets into the pot. Depending upon the game, however, you should look at these big pairs with a discerning eye. Simply put, there are times when you want to be wielding the big guns and times when big pairs are the last thing you want to be holding. Texas Hold’em This is arguably the one game that, when you’re holding a big pair, you are thrilled when you look at your hole cards. Whether in a cash game or a tournament, Limit or No Limit, big pairs are an opportunity to get your chips in. A player has to ...