Personally I like to play small pocket pairs with some money in the pot. If I am under the gun with 2-7 I don’t raise. Even when I am at a 6-player table. I limp in and I hope somebody raises behind me. As long as they have enough money left in their stack to cover 10 to 1 on the raise, (more or less the odds I am getting to hit my set) I am calling. I hope to hit my set and go from there. Now If I am in seat’s 6,7 or 8 and I have a pair of 7’s. I will throw a small raise in. I don’t like the idea of raising upfront with small pockets pairs. Lets say you raise 4x the BB with 44 UTG. Even if you get a good flop like 752 rainbow. Because you raised up front 4x the BB you have no idea of knowing where everybody else stands. They could easily have you beat with any pocket pair from 55 to AA. If I have 99 and somebody has raised 4x the BB up front I am just calling. Leaving you in a bad position. So I say play them soft, hope to hit your set and go from there.