K 2 on deal unsuited ?

[Vint]

What do I do?

I always get this hand.

[Bmxicle]

Not to sound harsh, but if you need to ask that question, you shouldn't be playing that hand.

[Xianti]

{Moved from Hold'em Strategies}

[Vint]

Fantastically helpful replies.

/sarcasm off

[Xianti]

If you haven't already, read all these essays:
http://www.flopturnriver.com/essays_...ps_0_to_2.html


Bottom line: Unless you intend to steal with that starting hand (by representing a much better hand), you must fold K2 pre-flop. Calling simply to see a lucky flop with that junk is not an option.

Saying you "always get this hand" just means you've conditioned yourself to notice when you're dealt this hand. Try ignoring K2 and looking for how often you're dealt another random junk hand like 94.

[Vint]

If you haven't already, read all these essays:
http://www.flopturnriver.com/essays_...ps_0_to_2.html


Bottom line: Unless you intend to steal with that starting hand (by representing a much better hand), you must fold K2 pre-flop. Calling simply to see a lucky flop with that junk is not an option.

Saying you "always get this hand" just means you've conditioned yourself to notice when you're dealt this hand. Try ignoring K2 and looking for how often you're dealt another random junk hand like 94.

Thank you. I will read that and will definetly use what you told me.

[ensign_lee]

Fold it preflop unless you're trying to steal with it.

[Molinero]

I will add to what the others are saying:

BE CAREFUL trying to steal/rep a big hand...you don't want to do this very often with rags like K2.

[ChezJ]

if you continue to play K2o, you may also notice that you always lose with it. the ONLY flop you can be happy with is trip deuces and that is incredibly unlikely.

ChezJ

[Vlad]

Like Chez said, the duce is about useless, unless you get 2 more two's somewhere along the line, or a K/2 for two pair.

You have to know why you are in the hand, and what you'll do next if someone bets at you. If it's cheap to see the flop, K/2 suited might be playable, but K/2 offsuit isn't much of a hand in a game with a bunch of folks in it. (On the other hand, if it doesn't cost you much, it doesn't seem like a bad idea to play off hands every once in a while to make folks wonder what you are doing and therefore not fold on every bet you make.)

In a 10 person game, 20 cards (out of 52) are out, there's a real serious chance someone else has a K with a better kicker, and will stick around, especially if its a free table or low limit.

[ChezJ]

flopping two pair with K2 is very very weak. if the board pairs (and it often does), your second pair is totally counterfeited, leaving you with K's and X's, 2 kicker. You automatically lose to anyone else with a K (unless they happen to have K2 also).

so like i said, the only flop you are happy with is trip 2's. and this can still lose to A2!

[Eric]

K2 is tough to play. Are you hoping for a K on the flop only to put a lot of money in and be outkicked?

[JeffreyGB]

As a general rule, if you're playing off the strength of a high card, look for a kicker that's 9 or better. Hell, I may easily fold KJo preflop if I'm out of position.

An even more general rule:
To play a hand, tell yourself that you will require, at MINIMUM, two of the following three things:
1. High card strength (for it to be strength, you need a decent kicker...see above)
2. Suitedness (both cards are of the same suit)
3. Connectedness (the two cards are separated by 2 or less spaces)

Honestly, even hands like K6s are worthless, save to steal with.

[aokrongly]

Here's a rule to learn and live by... Big Little is Big Trouble. A5, K3 etc. It's worse than 67 or 78. Here's why. If you flop top pair you have a horrible kicker. If you flop bottom pair, big deal. What makes it such a bad hand isn't the preflop call, it's the trouble you get into post flop if you hit a piece. These type hands will lose lots of money compared to 67 where you'll immediately get out if you don't make 2 pair or a straight draw. See what I'm saying here? If you're thinking, "what if I hit 2 pair or the low trips?" then you need to get some poker therapy. That's the excuse for playing Any 2 cards. The fact that one of them is a K or A is irrelevant.

Good luck! and happy playing.

[Fortune 500]

AS this is the beginner forum, I think even trying to rep a big hand is probably a risky play. Just muck it.

K2o has almost no value unless you catch two pair or better with it, and two pair is even shaky and easily counterfietted.

Repping on the button is a play that can really only be discussed when you have a little more understanding, and is still situational. Are there limpers before hand? From what position did they limp. What are your reads on the blinds. What have you shown down to this point? What are the chip stacks like?

Until you're ready to analyze all of these factors in relation to the hand that you're playing at the moment, just throw it out. It's the safest, easiest play, and is probably +EV to repping anyhow.

[Vlad]

flopping two pair with K2 is very very weak. if the board pairs (and it often does), your second pair is totally counterfeited

Well, not to belabor the obvious, but if you flop 2 pair with K/2, there's only 1 board card (on the flop) that isn't a K or a 2, and you sure wouldn't mind pairing the board with the K or 2 (which is of course isn't very likely). Pairing 2 of the other 3 board cards would hurt, but the chance of it happening wouldn't kill the hand for me.

I still consider myself a newb, and I wouldn't play k/2o unless I got the flop dirt cheap (or preferably free), but there's something very fun about beating A's with a cheese 2 pair like k/2. 2 pair k/2 would be worth seeing another card most of the time (for me) unless I can put someone on a set.

But generally, everyone agrees that K/2o isn't much to get excited about.

[fjuanl]

when you start poker and see any face card, most people are in the hand. but when you get dealt something like K2, A2, Q2, etc..etc.. you should fold immeadiately.

You might say to yourself, "hey its cheap, lets see the flop, maybe I'll hit that King" You have 3 outs in the deck for your king first of all. Second of all, a pair of kings doesnt guarantee a victory. If someone else holds a king with a higher kicker (ie : KJs) you are dominated. I, unlike many others, would never even consider seeing the flop with hands like K2 unless its some kind of a steal play where you raise a lot preflop hoping everyone will fold. I would actually rather be holding 78s than A2, K2, etc. More possibilities, more outs

[biondino]

I'm surprised people are including A2/3/4 in with K2. The straight potential makes it a far better hand - still not a cert, but without doubt a card worth seeing a cheap flop with.

[fjuanl]

yes, you can get a straight, but when you have A2, you will never have an open ended draw (8 cards in the deck to get your straight), you will just have 4 outs to hit it. If the flop is 234, you're only looking for a 5. This hand can also get beginners into trouble because they fall in love with the flop if they hit an ace. If your playing at a 10 person table and hit your ace on the flop, watch out because theres a good possibility someone has an ace with a higher kicker.