Danger's at the table: Learn how to use it

Here's an articler that I found interesting and helpful. Enjoy!

Danger's at the table: Learn how to use itDanger is all around you at the poker table.

The trick to becoming a successful player is learning how to avoid these dangerous traps while striking fear into your opponents by playing tricky hands.

Some hands are dangerous to play. The worst type of hand you can be dealt when playing Texas Hold 'em is one that seems to be too good to fold but isn't good enough to raise with. Sure, it's easy to know that you should raise with pocket aces and fold a 7-2 offsuit, but hands like KJ offsuit can often cause you real problems.

While high cards are better than low cards, in most No Limit Hold 'em situations the lows often have a better risk/reward ratio.

The potential problem with trouble hands like KJ, AJ, QJ or even KQ is that when you flop a pair with them you'll often have kicker trouble.

Too often when you call a raise with a hand like KQ, you'll be up against AK, or maybe AA or KK.

If you're in there with KQ and the flop comes Q-6-2, you'll have what appears to be a really strong hand.

The problem, though, is that if someone decides to play against you after the flop, there is a good chance you're going to get beat.

Stay clear of traps
The bottom line is clear: If you are to play a big pot on that flop, for all of your money, chances are that you are walking into a set (trip 2s, 6s, or Q's), an AQ, a pair of kings or a pair of aces.

Generally, these trouble hands often win small pots when no one else hits the flop and lose monster pots when they run into a better hand. Why? Because it's really difficult to fold such a seemingly strong hand after a flop like that.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not recommending that you never play a hand like KQ or AJ.

But always remember that when you do, you need to proceed cautiously.

Don't get married to your top pair if a quality opponent is pushing the betting hard.

Now compare the previous examples to playing a hand like a pocket pair of 4s, a dangerous hand to own.

This hand is much easier to work with. Either you hit the flop big, by landing three of a kind, or you have a hand with little value.

Let's look at another example. You call a raise with 4-4 from late position, from a player who you suspect has a strong hand, maybe even AA. You aren't calling because you think your little pair is the best hand, but you are doing so because of the potential to win a big pot.

Let's say the flop now comes Js-4c-2d. Or, in other words, Gin, baby!

If your opponent did in fact start with a hand like AA, KK, or QQ, chances are you'll be able to win his whole stack if you bet it right. Had the flop come something like J-9-8, then you can safely fold your pair of 4s without risking another chip. It's a minor risk in relation to the big payday a small pair might offer you.

Look for connectors
There is one last group of hands you might want to add to your repertoire playing small suited connectors like 6-7. These hands can be a little trickier than small pairs, but you'll be able to connect with them more often. The same principle holds true with these little cards. Get to the flop cheaply if you can and get out if you don't improve.

For example, you call a raise with 6-7 of hearts and the flop comes 6-6-2. If your opponent has a big overpair, you might be able to win all of his chips because he might not believe you would call a raise with a 6 in your hand.

The key difference between dangerous hands to play and dangerous hands to own is that it's easy to get away from the latter, but it's often difficult to avoid getting trapped with a risky hand like top pair.

Be the dangerous player — not the player in danger.
By DANIEL NEGREANU

Suited connectors are Doyles favorite hand. He raises and calls with them for a suprise factor in his game.

I have used suited connectors in my game for awhile. I like them when the big stack because most of the time people won't see it coming. I don't usually play suited connectors below 67 or 78. I think the way to get action on them is that someone else has to hit something as well. If you call with 34 suited, and get 25x flopped, you are not going to get any action from the table.

The power of the hand is that they are easy to fold after the flop and you can chop your opponents outs by getting the flush draw.

You have 910 suited vs two overs. You get a flush draw on the flop, you have just taken two of his outs away. if he hits a diamond on his cards, you take it with the flush.