Open Face Chinese scenario

Open Face Chinese logic scenario: What to you think is the optimum way to play a pair of twos in the opening 5 cards?

I have an opinion on this but I am curious to see how others prefer to play them.

My personal thoughts are that in the vast majority of cases you should split them, putting one at the front and one in the middle.

If you put them at the back they are too weak to win most hands and will need to improve. But with 2 slots already used up, improving to 2-pair and trips is unlikely. It will also lead to problems of them being overtaken inadvertantly by the middle or front, particularly the middle. You'll often end up avoiding pairs just to safeguard the status quo.

If you put them in the middle (probably the best option after splitting) you are immediately commited to beating the hand at the back, and the hand also is very vulnerable to being beaten by your opponent. Improving the hand would be incredibly dangerous as that would necessitate an extra leap by the back hand to min 2 pair.

If you put them at the front, then you really are going to be up against it in the next 8 cards as you are gambling on making pairs in the middle and back.

Splitting the pair is imo more than likely best (placing one in the front and one in the middle, like I say) leaving maximum slots free to draw a powerful hand at the back.

Tailoring my approach to the situation is more important than anything else really. Some hands you will need to switch to the defensive. I don't think it's possible to describe my strategy beyond it being observant and adaptive. If I hit royalties it is most likely to be an ace-high flush as the back hand, drawing from 4, but that's probably the case with everyone. Some royalties are just not worth chasing unless the right set-up is there fairly early.

I will chase flush/open-ended-straight royalties or bigger hands where appropriate to do so. But really that's all down to the cards you are getting dealt and how your opponents are setting out their hand.

I am yet to meet/play anyone who seems to think playing for fantasy land is wise. I think unless you get hit with the deck early it is always going to be a poor strategy.

If you are playing 4-handed not fouling is always the number 1 priority really. I've played mostly HU by far, but with 4 people I prefer a more extreme polarised approach. ie going for it hard for a big coup, or playing it safe (weighted towards the latter). Avoiding the middle ground where possible. But again really situation dependant.

With Fantasy Land, I feel you really need a semi-perfect first 6-9 cards for it to be wise. And that is rare. Say I get dealt QQ69T mixed suits. I would never ever set those Qs at the front straight out of the gate. Whereas if I had a 4-flush at the back and KK in the middle, then I'd happily put a subsequent Q at the top, playing the 2-way draw. But it's just very rare you get into a nice enough position soon enough for it to be wise very often (imo).