PLaying with 2 overcards

Hey all. When I find myself with 2 overcards after the flop I always have trouble deciding how strong my hand really is.

Example: flop comes 368 rainbow, I've got say 9-k os... all things equal should I go with the "pro" bet if I'm first to act 2xbb, limp, get out... any ideas.

I'm not looking at trying to steal necesarily, I just want to know what would be considered a strong tight play (TAG). I haven't learned yet about implied odds and such, maybe it is time.

Thanks.

No such thing as 'all things equal'. How you play this has a lot to do with position, stacks, game (mtt/ring/sng), reads ... and all the things that make this game 'unequal' ...

First off, you didn't even tell us what happened before the flop... how many in the hand... pot size... etc, etc.

Need more info... lots more, imo.

Firstly K9 is a hand you wont to be playing much unless your big blind and have no choice.

And if thats the case that means nobody has raised so they the playes may have bad/low cards, so its possible another player has hit that flop with a low card and betting would not scare them off .

And even if they didnt hit they may still call because With a flop like 368 there are no scary cards, so you may be wasting chips if you bet out there.

Id rather check and see what the others do in a case like this.

Yep, not enough information as to a particular hand. Do you just want general ideas?

K9 is not a hand you should be playing, most times. If, however, you had a good hand of overcards: AK, say, in mid-position. And you raised 3-4xBB preflop, thus discouraging the blinds (who might connect well with this flop) from playing. You got one caller, on the button, a fairly good player whose hand range includes calling a raise with low pockets. Under those circumstances, a value bet on the flop will clarify where you stand. But not a min-raise, usually (Mix it up. If you would min-raise no matter how well you hit the flop, then a min-raise is OK. If you would bet more with AA or with a set, then... you get the idea.)

Or you could check and see what the caller does. And either fold or check raise. Dang, too many answers...

Well, K9 is a pretty weak hand. You're behind any hand with an A, or plenty of K's with better kickers. Not to mention all the pocket pairs. If you want to take a shot at the pot post-flop, 2/3 of the time a single opponent would have missed it as well. But be prepared to slow down if called or fold if raised. All in all, I'd just stay away from K-9 altogether. It's likely just to get you in trouble.

taking stabs at limped heads-up and 3 way pots when the board is very dry is generally a good idea. It is even better if you have outs that are probably good, like 2 overcards, or one overcard and some back door straight or flush draws.

I don't think I would play it.

It is what it is, a quick way to loose your chips.

fold preflop

good one!

But seriously, I understand that more information might be needed so let me try to clarify...

I'm first to act after a flop that leaves me with two over cards. So i am asking what is the chance that, with two overcards, I will have the best hand after all is said and done. .. TAGand what would be an apporpriate TAG move?

Thanks

You don't play K9 voluntarily if you are playing "TAG" the "T" stands for tight and that means you don't play weak hands like K9. If you want to play K9, then you will be playing a "loose" style like "LAG"

check it and if someone bets fold it i wouldnt bet with k 9 as theres every chance in a 3 way pot that your behind even if the flop is 3 6 8 rainbow blinds are in they can have anything like 8 6 or 8 3 and you would be behind heaps then position on the table also affects how u would play it

OK, for specifics, run the hand through pokerstove. K9 (suited or off) is about 57% to win generally against a random hand.

With a board of 3,6,8 rainbow (I picked a specific rainbow to run the hand), K9 (s or o) is 43.8% to win over a random hand.

As others have pointed out, playing K9 is not a TAG move. So if you want to be a shark (ultimate TAG), take this combo off your list of playable hands. K9s from the button, however, is a raiseable hand (which is to be folded to a reraise), but it still is not a hand that a tight player would play. That 9 will get you in more trouble than you can imagine. Tight play is with the top 20 or so hands, period. Not the top 20% of hands.

I think you're beginning to see why K9 is not that great of a hand. My gut reaction response was going to be, "Well, how did everyone get to the flop?" Meaning, did a lot of people limp in? Or did you hang around after one player showed strength and raised? But then I realized something...

It doesn't really matter how everyone got to the flop as you are not in a good position regardless. For instance, if a bunch of people limped in, the odds of someone pairing up that rainbow, holding an ace with a rag, or holding a small pocket pair are fairly high. So at least one player has you beat and probably feels pretty good about his hand.

If, on the other hand, someone got to the flop showing strength, i.e. AK, AQ, AJ, medium pocket pairs, etc., they also have you beat and feel pretty confident as well.

So, getting in there with such a strange hand leaves you vulnerable and the chances of getting someone out with a raise seem low.

That's at least my opinion of it. I could be wrong since I typically play tight. But I think K9 trouble is exactly why I play tight!

-Dave

If you put someone on a small pair before the flop then someone just made a set and you should not get involved. If someone has Ax-x being one of the cards on the flop then you are a 3 to 1 underdog with two overcards and two more cards to come. So if someone bets offering you 3 to 1 you should consider calling and PRAYING.

... playing two over cards is like playing a pair of spades , kinda dumb.

Great tips guys, thanks for the analysis!

PJ

Hey, no problem! I don't know about anyone else, but I'm still learning so much that it helps my own game to think and talk about these issues as well.

Good luck to you!
-Dave