07-27-04, LearnTexasHoldem:
KQ in $20/40
LETS ASSUME FLOP DOESNOT IMPROVE THOSE CARDS.ARE THOSE CARDS PLEYABLE AFTER FLOP AND IF THEY ARE HOW REFERING TO MENTIONED POSSITIONS?
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Answer: That's a tough question. I'll do my best to not just answer everything with "it depends." Let's assume that this is a regular 20/40 game -- nothing unusual. I'm going to come in for a raise in all positions with the hand as long as I'm opening (the first one in). I'm going to do this because KQ is a good hand and most 20/40 players will raise behind me with much less and I don't want to give up the initiative if I'm going to play.
Now let's say an early position person raised (who was a decent player) and everyone folded to me. I would probably dump it. If I'm in the big blind I would call. Let's say that I'm in late position and a guy to my right who raises more then just good hands opens -- a call or reraise is fine. I'm not dumping here because my hand is most likely better then his. He could have any number of hands, most of which I either already have the advantage over or we aren't in contention for the same cards (like if he has TT, QJ, AT, AJ, 99, Ace rag, etc).
So that's pretty much it for preflop. I will come in for a raise most of the time; call two bets preflop in most situations unless it is from a tight uncreative player who probably does have AK or better.
Post flop is more tricky and that's where you'll get into trouble or make money. If you hit your K or Q and it's top pair then you'll know what to do with it. The tricky part is when you miss the flop and are up against just a couple players. If it is a large field, 3+ opponents, then I'll just check if I miss completely. No point in trying to push that many people out.
With one or two opponents though you need to be aggressive and bet. Let's say the flop is Ace high. That could look scary to them. Bet and if you are raised fold. If the flop is all low cards then I would bet and if I didn't get raised bet again on the turn. See at these levels people aren't as dumb as the low limit games. If the guy thinks he is beat, he will most likely fold. With a flop like 873, you don't want to let him win with a pair or 7s or 3s. You also don't want to give free cards that could beat you. You may very well already have the best hand. Unless someone tells you differently, full steam ahead when it is one or two opponents.
Now as for playing it after the flop when you miss completely and you have a lot of opponents, the texture of the flop and the betting will decide whether you want to peel a card off. Do you have a gutshot draw that has odds to call for? Is the board with a flush draw that you have the K or Q to as well as the overcards? Is the flop T or J high so you may also catch openended on the turn? See there are flops that can give you a little extra leverage other then just catching your K or Q. Note that also since there were two bets preflop and a lot of callers, the pot is now large and you'll have the odds to call for draws you might normally not.
Hope that helps a little. It isn't easy detailing strategy for 20/40 games and above because so much of how you play in each situation depends on how everyone else is playing.
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