Originally Posted by r8ed

KQ is a strong hand. At a minimum call in EP. As you move up in limits you should probably play it more aggressively. I raise it up in any position, same with AJ on most tables. Coherent opponents will be able to put you on a hand easier if you play it too passively pre and post flop.

Originally Posted by Renton

You just have to play it carefully. With KQo, I fold in EP (I open call with KQs, it's just me), and in any other position, I fold if there's a raise before me, and I raise if it's folded around to me. From there on I play it exactly as I would AK.

Originally Posted by dpe8598

Personally, I never raise w/ KQ suited. I would rather raise w/ 89 suited than KQ suited for obvious reasons. Then again, at 25 you might actually get some callers w/ Kj or K10, so its a bit more viable, but no better than just calling in my opinion.

Originally Posted by dpe8598

I disagree completely, of course it depends 100% on the tables you are playing. I play relatively tight tables and a raise and C-bet w/ a couple of big cards like KQ is extremely transparent and a -ev play. W/ KQ you are either taking down a small pot w/ top pair or w/ a c-bet. You are also losing big pots against 2 pair or better or AQ or AK.

But you might ask, what about when you hit a big hand like a flush or straight w/ this hand? Well, in this case why do you want to raise preflop and thin the field? I play KQ like it is, a drawing hand. Limp in and hope for a big hand. If you hit top pair, bet small and hope to take down a moderate pot, if someone comes at you hard get out. Personally, I think this is the best way to play KW. At lower limits you can play this like a big hand and get paid off against people that call freely preflop but fold easy post flop. But you could have pulled this move w/ any 2 cards!

There are always exceptions though, I personally like to raise w/ this hand when the entire table folds to me and I'm up against 1 or 2 players.

Originally Posted by Renton

the only time I play KQs as a drawing hand is when a player who always habitually minbets preflop with AA does his thing. Then I will call his bet a hope to flop trips, twopair, straight or flush. But people at the limits you guys play probably aren't dumb enough to minbet AA preflop.

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

now there you would be very much mistaken

Originally Posted by Renton

Fnord I thought you had a fairly loose game, a la 20-22 vpip. Not true?

Originally Posted by dpe8598

Finally, I will also raise w/ any other 2 cards on rare occasions.

Originally Posted by Fnord

The trick with KQ is understanding that it's a 3-card hand.

It gets me in trouble in limit because there are times where I can check behind Ax and be good, but KQ forces me to fire the last barrel. Not so much of an issue in NLHE.

As far as pre-flop goes, my starting hands look something like this:

AA
KK
QQ
JJ-66
55-22
AK
Other stuff I'll play often when in position and/or in isolation against a poor player

Originally Posted by lukie

For the record, all written above is assuming full ring games.


[/quote='lukie']

good job u stated this.

Isnt this why we raise in poition when the texture of the specific hand suggests so?

Im not going to agree to this either....
i think thats multitabling fever though...

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

1. KQ/KQs isnt a drawing hand. In position it is a strong hand. Out of position it is a dangerous hand if not played properly.
2. If you play tight tables then why arent you raising KQ? you should effectivly be raising both 89s and KQs and c-betting to take take down a number of small pots repetitivly. On a tight table your raisng rnge should be wider as opps will not call beyond the flop even preflop at times without a hand. Thus your fold quity with any two is so much higher. You arent trying to out camp a camping table. Your trying to pray on their weaknesses.
3. C-beting forces opps into a decision, no matter what they have. Checking does not force them into decisions or makes their decision far easier. Put pressure on opps to play poker.
4.Ifyou are scared of AQ/AK then you arent noticing the sign of being beat or arent controlling you pot very well. Top pair isnt a license to print money but if you are raising KQ in position then if a player behind you has a better hand thats tough luck! It happens. Utilise position more than thinking about 'what if'
5. If you arent getting paid with top pair by more moderate hands then you arent playing enough hands imo to encourage action
6. You need to understand the dynamics of a tight table and c-betting.
A tight table wont like someone who raises every third hand, they WILL get pissed eventually and you start getting policed. Also, c-betting when your range is wide forces opps to start playing their hands. Show them your hand range is wide and dont check when you OBVIOUSLY hit nothing BET! Then if you raised 89s and not KQs and hit trip nines on the flop but bet anyway opp has to decipher the strength of your hand. If you dont ever ask opponents to make decisions, they wont make BAD ones when you put pressure on them.

Originally Posted by jackvance

I'm still in the process of trying to figure out how to wait for my good hands, but at the same time not appear too tight, because then when they come everyone will fold.

Originally Posted by Pelion

What stakes are you playing? If you are a t reasonably low stakes then dont worry about it. Sure the good players will notice you are tight, but you arent generally going to be taking alot of money from them anyway. Poor players dont seem to notice anyway. If you find yourself playing on tables where everyone folds then change tables (or just start stealing every other hand until they are forced to l0osen up).

Originally Posted by Renton

do NOT play 6-max, until you get better.

Play full ring. You can't play tight in 6-max. Its much more difficult for a tight player to excel in 6-max IMO.