Playing Middle Pairs

I'm a big believer in raising middle pairs. Let's say you have a 77 or 88. These two hands, when taken out of suited connector equations, are in the TOP TEN POSSIBLE hands of poker! Suited connectors, while so valuable, only go so far.

At a 2/4 table tonight I drew 88. I was raised - two to go - so I reraised making it three to go. The raiser reraised and I called. The flop came K 3 6. My opponent bet into me to which I reraised. She folded and I picked up a 27 some-odd sized pot. Next hand I drew 77. I reraised making it 3 to go and there was a second caller. Flop - Q 4 6. Both checked to me, and I bet 2 - and was check raised. I called. The turn card was a K. The two before me bet and called. I left the hand having spent $10. This is very typical in Limit Hold'em and in these two situations... one good and one bad... I came out ahead by nearly $20. Now imagine if the second would have hit trips!!!!!