How can you tell if you have J10 for example and hit top pair whether another player has Aj, Qj or Kj?
Don't play dominated hands against a raise!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's fine to open raise JT from the button but bad to normally call a raise with it.
Hands like AQ KQ KJ QJ JT are called trap hands for a reason. If you make top pair you may take down a small pot but if you get your stack in who calls your raise? Take AQ. If you pair the A what hands would you be losing to? AA AK QQ. If you pair the Q what hands do you lose to? AA KK QQ.
If the pot is raised in front of you and you have no reason to think villain is a maniac then fold most of these hands, That is why position is so important in NLHE. If it is folded to you in late position you can raise these hands but when you are in Early position if you raise then you will play out of position and have to decide whether to put money in the pot without knowing if your opponent has you outkicked and if they don't and you are unsure and you check you give them a free card to outdraw on you.
Thanks for your answer. Never thought about it like that. I maybe overplay AQ. I'm even tempted to re-raise pf with it lol.
To clarify what your saying, you only open with these hands in general because if you call a raise, even when you hit the flop you could be outkicked and don't know where your at? Should I not even call in late position? Unless I have on them of course.
speaking of crappy kickers.....i def think i need to start folding AQ UTG...it cost me many many moniess this past weekend....ran it into AK so many times...SB and BB would flat my raise...always thought i had the best hand when the A hit....sigh
This sound like me. Is this 6max or FR?
speaking of crappy kickers.....i def think i need to start folding AQ UTG...it cost me many many moniess this past weekend....ran it into AK so many times...SB and BB would flat my raise...always thought i had the best hand when the A hit....sigh
There is so, so much value with AK/AQ against weaker aces/pairs with weaker kickers.
I don't disagree at all, but that's not what happens most often with AK or AQ. I'm saying how comfortable would you be facing a large river bet with AK vs a villain who is not a maniac? Like I said, I win money with AKo,just not alot. You can raise, make TPTK, c-bet and take down a small bet OR make TPTK, check/call and bet the turn OR make TPTK and re-raise IP. Anyway you slice it you're getting two bets of value most of the time. Now, if your against a 70/3 calling station or a 30/28 Maniac you can play it differently but again that isn't most of the time.
Btw; if you 3bet with AK and whiff (low board no draws) and villain checks to you are you more likely c-betting or checking behind?