Learn Texas Holdem

No-limit Texas Hold'em provides many challenges, which is what makes the game so enticing to many poker enthusiasts. One difficulty new players often have is how to value their hands. Many new players understand from reading poker books or through experience that certain hands are not playable before the flop, but it is much harder to know after the flop whether certain hands are good. One type of hand that is very tricky to play is top pair, medium kicker.

Playing Top Pair Medium Kicker

How you will play this hand will depend on a number of factors. Two of the major ones are the texture of the flop and the pre-flop action.

Texture of the Flop

If you have top pair medium kicker on a ragged board it is much more likely to be good than on a strong board. For example if you hold 9 7 on a board of 9 5 2, you have a better chance of having the best hand than if you hold A 8 on a board of A 5 2, since players are far more inclined to play hands with an ace in them than hands with a 9.

Pre-Flop Action

You should use the pre-flop action as a guide to whether your top pair medium kicker hand is good. If the hand was limped around pre-flop and it is checked to you, you should often take a shot with your top pair and see what happens. If you are raised, you will have to make an assessment as to whether your opponent thinks you are on a steal and is attempting a re-steal or if they have a real hand. On the other hand, a player who raised before the flop and then bets the flop may be making a continuation bet, so you may want to call or raise to see where you are in the hand, especially if the top pair is a medium strength card.

The most important thing to remember with regard to top pair medium kicker is that by the river, it is not a very strong hand. If you are experiencing extreme pressure from an opponent, it is often a good idea to let this hand go. You may be up against top pair with a better kicker, two pair or even a set. Release the hand and wait for a better opportunity unless you are confident your opponent is bluffing or coming after you weak.