In the context of community card games such as Hold'em, bottom pair denotes a pair formed with the lowest ranking card present on the board.
When talking about pocket pairs that rank lower than the lowest board card, the term used is underpairs .
Bottom pair might also be called a low pair , although the latter term can apply to various small pairs, regardless of whether they match the lowest card on the board.
This guide will cover the following topics:
Why is it Called Bottom Pair?
Bottom pair is referred to as such because it involves a pair created with the board's lowest card while participating in community card games like Hold'em and Omaha. It's possible to have even lower pairs in play with a pocket pair that is ranked beneath the bottom pair.
How Strong is Bottom Pair in Hold’em?
In Hold'em, having a bottom pair is generally not a strong position. However, it may occasionally be the winning hand in pots where there isn’t much aggressive betting. Against substantial bets, they tend to function merely as bluff catchers and should typically be folded, unless we know our opponent bluffs regularly. Since bottom pairs usually provide enough showdown value, our goal should be to see the showdown rather than turning the hand into a bluff.
How Strong is Bottom Pair in Omaha?
In Omaha, the value of a bottom pair is incredibly low. Even in pots that have little action, it’s uncommon for a bottom pair to be the winning hand. Thus, in Omaha, it could be more strategic to approach a bottom pair like a bluffing hand, particularly if we think our opponent has the capacity to lay down their hand.
What Distinguishes Bottom Pair from an Underpair?
A bottom pair consists of our hole card combined with the lowest card from the board. An underpair, on the other hand, is made up of both of our hole cards (creating a pocket pair) and is of lower rank than the lowest card on the board.
How is Bottom Pair Different from Low Pair?
Bottom pair is specifically a pair formed using one hole card and the lowest card from the board. Conversely, low pair refers to any pair that is low ranking (likely 6 or below) and may or may not coincide with a bottom pair; furthermore, the low pair category encompasses underpairs as well. It's also possible for a bottom pair to actually be classified as a mid or high pair depending on the rank of the lowest board card.
Summary
The concept of bottom pair designates a pair created with one hole card and the board's lowest ranked card. Such pairs are typically quite weak in both Hold'em and Omaha, but in Hold'em, they might hold a bit more value in showdown scenarios, as forming pairs is less frequent considering players are only dealt two hole cards.