General question regarding small pairs

[nuvan]

Is it generally profitable to set mine with small pairs assuming people are full stacked from the blinds?(small pairs being pair 8's and below).
I find that if i hit my set i rarely get paid off, and most of the times where i check fold accumulate much more then the sets which i do hit. I do make moves occasionally on certain boards, but disregarding these.(Also assuming you are contesting the pot heads up in non-multiway pots.)

This is verse reasonable opponents who do c-bet a high percentage and dont have a huge steal percentage (30%+).

As i come across this situation alot
and am not sure if its a leak or just bad luck, ive only played a relatively small sample of hands 25k but this is mostly at micros 10NL and i recently have moved to 25NL on FT.
My general feel is to 3-bet more to gain some more fold equity, but i find i tend to get floated or people unwilling to give up there mid pair if a 2 broadway flop comes which results in me having to invest a large amount of money 2-barrelling on essentially on a bluff, as being OOP really ruins playing these hands.
Any comments or help on the matter would be appreciated.
Cheers Nuvan

[mxrider]

I think it really depends upon how you play them postflop and the characteristics of the board and determining how to play the hand to get the most value from your opponent.

[no eff eks]

I 3bet small pairs a lot if somebody raises from steal position and stacks are 100bb+ deep... 77/88 are pretty quality hands so I'm not calling just for set value if I don't 3bet.

Sometimes calling their c-bet when you've missed is fine. Don't fold on a super dry flop just because they c-bet. Think about their likely range and decide how your hand does against it...

A good player should have a 30% ATS at minimum, preferably more like 35%+.... small pairs do pretty well against that range, but it's often easier to just 3bet them PF and take down and easy 4-6bb.

[R8tme]

Hi. It all depends on your opponents and your position. If the player in front of you loose passive you can 3bet hime and take it on the flop. If he is tag it's better to play just for set. If the player is maniac it's also better to play for set. Cause who knows what he has and what he bets.
As in blinds, I usually play only for set.
Cause if you start playing tricky and 3bet and your opponent calls, at this stake he can go all the way down calling you.

[R8tme]

yeah. one more thing in position and dry board you can call one street and see his reaction on the turn. But be cautious doing though.
Also sometimes you can reraise him, but it all depends on your opponent.
Just don't play tricky with stations

[Perrygarl]

There are going to be times when you hit that set, but do not get paid off with it. But usually if you are constantly using them against players with full stacks, that when you stack off an opponent, it generally makes you more than you lost.

[R8tme]

Again as LolTrickedU said look for 15+ implied odds. Cause 1/8 you'll get your set. Also the best way is to stack either nit or aggro, especially in early position.

[nuvan]

So the general consensus is basically play them for set value and occasionally choose good spots to turn your hand into a bluff and play it like that versus a standard tag (20/18 sort of tag) who opens relatively light on the button and for the most part cold call OOP and the odd occasion 3-bet to keep them in check if maniacal.