ugly boards with KK how to proceed?

I'm getting in situations where I'm a little lost. I'll raise in EP with KK and get a call from the btn. The flop will come AJJ or AQJ or similar ugly board textures for KK. Another situation similar I raise in mp1 with middle pp. the btn calls and the flop comes with 2 overs... How should I proceed?

one word: fold

It depends, but for starters read this The WA/WB concept

Yeah you have a few options in situations like this:
1. Cbet. This is betting that the other person has missed the board or is as scared of it as you are. Most hands hit the board 1/3 of the time so a bet of 2/3 of the pot will often get folds.
- This is only really an option heads up though.
- If called you pretty much have to check/fold the rest of the hand.

2. WA/WB. You check the flop in order to call a bet on the turn. This encourages weaker hands to bluff you but you will have to fold on the river.
- Basically only works in position.
- You will pretty much always have to fold to a river bet. If you can't fold here the cbet/fold strategy is probably safer.
- Also only works HU.

3. Check/Fold. Your hand missed the board and you can just give up.
- Best option multiway because it is more likely someone has an ace.
- Doesn't give you any real chance to win the pot.

Each option is valid in different situations and of course any reads on the opponent make different options more or less valid.

Curse. Fold.

If you're OOP and you're the raiser, you've got to c-bet with A-high boards anyway really. Unless you're in some drastic multi-way pot. Obviously if you don't get the fold you're looking for with the c-bet, it's folding time.

I play pot control and look for a cheap showdown. If the other player/s show aggression, just fold it and wait for a better spot. But if they are giving you good pot odds you can call and hope they slow down or have a worse hand.

Hard to play pot control OOP.

OOP my default is to just cbet unless I know my opponent floats a lot of flops. The real problem is not how to play KK when an Ace hits the board, it how to play KK OOP. Position is everything.

the hand that prompted me to post went down like this.

raise EP with KK btn calls (the btn was a calling station)

Flop come JAJr

Hero: check to btn
btn: checks

turn: 3 (brough a flush draw)

Hero: bets 1/2 pot
btn: calls

river: 8

Hero over shoves for 1.5x pot

I tank call and he flips J9o.

I think in this particular hand I should have check/check/call or similar.

So he shoved on the river and you called??? Why? You said he was a station right? Stations don't generally shove without the nuts (or near enough). Not only that but because his bet was 1.5x the pot you have to be good here WAYYYYYY more than you'll ever actually be to make the call profitable.

Don't mind the flop check if he's calling with his entire range but man calling that river is just burning money.

I know it can be hard to let go of KK but sometimes you will find that if you play it, knowing you could possibly be beat. Then you will wish you had of folded to begin with.

Great read. Will remember this next time. I'm embarassed about this hand but admitting you need help is 1/2 the solution. Asked Jared Tendler about this exact situation and not being able to lay em down. Felt I was beat on the flop(and was right because UTG+1 flashed an A high flush at the end). Didn't even think about MP1 having TT Somebody smack me!

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
Hero (UTG): $2.13
UTG+1: $1.59
MP1: $1.97
MP2: $2.65
CO: $2.02
BTN: $1.09
SB: $2.00
BB: $2.05
Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is UTG with K ♥ K ♦
Hero raises to $0.07, UTG+1 calls $0.07, MP1 calls $0.07, MP2 calls $0.07, 4 folds
Flop: ($0.31) 8 ♣ 5 ♣ T ♣ (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks
Turn: ($0.31) 5 ♥ (4 players)
Hero bets $0.31, UTG+1 calls $0.31, MP1 calls $0.31, MP2 folds
River: ($1.24) Q ♥ (3 players)
Hero bets $1.24, UTG+1 calls $1.21 all in, MP1 raises to $1.59 all in, Hero calls $0.35
Final Pot: $5.63
Hero mucks K ♥ K ♦
MP1 shows T ♦ T ♥ (Full house, tens full of fives)
MP1 wins $0.73
MP1 wins $4.62
(Rake: $0.28)

Its unfortunate when your holding KK, and the board show's an ace or pair up. Or even put draws out there, I'd rather bet 4x BB with KK or go all in pre-flop. GL

well in this situation.. I think knowing your opponent is crucial..
If his tight, then your screwed
If his loose, then you gotta make a hard decision..
It's up to you.. but if i'm in that situation ill bet half the pot, hopefully he folds.in case he calls.. ill bet again.. and stop in the river (check)
works for me a lot .. but if he reraise, then i'm screwed lol

I was three postions away from being in the money in a recent freeroll. I had to muck my pocket kings. Won $3.50 for the effort. I had already done the work needed earlier. Why make a mistake on one hand, when a flopped A can undo over 2 hours worth of effort? I lost quickly after making the money, my 2 daughters wanted to rag me to the casino. Aww, the prime rib for $7.77 was perfect.

KK is only 1 pair... It should be an easy fold ,but I know how hard it is to fold..

I was just in this same situation last night. I had pocket kings, I make my typical pref-flop raise, and I get a caller. The board flops A, J, 7...He has position and bets, I call despite the ace being there. The turn comes and it's another ace, he then checks, so I make a decent sized bet to really know whether or not he hit a set or not. He then folds and shows a jack. I didn't want to slow play in this situation, due to the board. I wanted information from him, and I wanted to be in control. The pot was relatively small, but it's better than having to make a tough decision on the river if he happens to push all-in.

The reason I called the initial bet was due to the fact that this particular player bets out all the time to steal relatively small pots. I also wanted to see what he would do on the turn, and when he decided to check that gave me a lot of information. Now this can be a little tricky, as I will usually check if the board pairs and I hit my set. I know the professionals tell you otherwise, but I always prefer to check the turn and then bet the river. I almost always get a caller on the river when I do this, as they never put me on the set.

You just have to observe how the players around you play, and once you figure that out, it's easier to tell what they might be holding or what they might not be holding.

Good luck with your pocket kings next time!