having trouble with QJ

I've used search thinking there almost certainly had to be something on this but all I really found was one good post about limit holdem.

I'm looking for more opinions and strategic thoughts on this hand especially for NL holdem.

I always seem to lose alot of money with QJ. This is my least favorite hand of all becuase it is so difficult to play. It seems like raising with it (which I would consider in late position) only invites hands in that would dominate yours.

In a raised pot you can possibly be up against AJ AQ AT KJ KQ assuming you are the raiser and somebody limped in front of you. Calling a raise from someone in early position can bring you up against AK AQ or high pocket pairs like AA KK QQ JJ and even TT sometimes.

Every main hand you would consider in a raised pot has you crippled.

But not raising can bring you up against almost anything, leaving you in the dark as to what to expect.

I just don't know how to play this.

And say you do catch top pair now you have Ace or King kickers to worry about. Straights don't come often enough to be something to expect and a straight draw will be gut shot most of the time.

And of course you come up against lose players who have you beat alot when you think you have a decent hand.

I'm not sure if I should start folding this and only play it really when I'm playing short handed or not.

I'm looking for some good thoughts on how to play this, how to lose less many and get out of bad situations.

QJ is a shitty hand anyway. I only play it if I intend to steal the pot.

-'rilla

QJ = the most dominated hand in the game of hold 'em. Ironically JTo is as about as good if not better than QJo (!).

The chain of domination with hands goes like this:
AK: AA
AQ: AA, KK (you dont want this match up, trust me), AK
QK: AQ, AK, AA, KK
AJ: AQ, AK, AA, KK, QQ
KJ: AK, KQ, AJ, AA, KK, QQ
QJ: AA, KK, QQ, AQ, AJ, KJ, KQ,

as you can see QJ is dominated by a lot of very frequently played hands against raisers preflop.

however

JT: AJ, KJ, QJ, AT, KT, QT, AA, KK, QQ, JJ if you raise these hands are not as played against a pre-flop raiser, so you dont have to worry as much.

JTs actually does very well against AA, KK and QQ, so it is dominated by few hands if it raises. This is why it is so important to raise JTs and T9s, espically with position.

This is why QJ has so many problems.

I always seem to lose alot of money with QJ.

Fold preflop and save yourself a world of pain

Yeah it took me awhile, but I learned to get away from these hands preflop. Save your sanity.

QJ is very easy to play...you fold it

QJ suited is a little better because of high flush + straight chances which can be avoided if you miss the flop for a good draw. Other than that, your TPGK is usually dominated.

I play QJs like I play 54s Pair = worthless

I posted in the King-Queen thread my personal play for that;so here I will show how I go about approaching Queen-Jack

Early position:I limp ONLY if suited.Offsuit I can't even hit the fold button fast enough;you can lose so much money limping with Queen-Jack offsuit.

Midposition:If offsuit I limp provided there are at LEAST 2 other callers(although I prefer 3).My favorite is limping with it suited when there are already 2-3 callers.

Late position:I still limp with it suited.Offsuit I limp if first in as well.For all cases if raised behind me I call if there is at least one other caller(again I prefer 2-3 callers to increase my pot odds).

On the flop(esp if it was raised) I continue playing only if I hit my straight/flush draw,and I play it aggressively when I do to either A)induce a fold or B)again increase my pot odds.

.Hitting either pair isn't really worth it in the long run because inevitably somone sucks out with their garbage King-x/Ace-x off crap cards.

JTs actually does very well against AA, KK and QQ, so it is dominated by few hands if it raises. This is why it is so important to raise JTs and T9s, espically with position.

yeah..I had my aces owned by JTs today lol