t1riel
Legend
Silver Level
I recently read an interesting article by Daniel Negreanu about dangerous hands to play in Hold em. To become a successful player, you need to know how to avoid traps while striking fear by playing some tricky hands. The article explains further.
"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...While it's obvious that high cards are better than low cards, in most No Limit Hold'em situations, the little cards often have a better risk/reward ratio."
For example, hands like KJ, AJ, QJ or even KQ can run you into trouble becuase if you flop a pair with them, you'll often have kicker trouble. If someone decides to play against you after the flop, there is a good chance you're going to get beat. Chances are that you are walking into a set an AQ, a pair of kings, or a pair of aces.
These trouble hands can win you small pots when no one else hits the flop but you can lose monster pots because it's really difficult to fold after hiting top pair on the flop, especially if the other two cards on the flop are low.
The article is not saying never play a hand like KQ or AJ. It's just saying that you need to proceed cautiously. Don't get too attached to your top pair if a quality opponent is betting hard.
Small pocket pair is much easier to work with becuase either you hit the flop big or you have a hand with very little value.
The article gives an 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. 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 fours without risking another chip. As you can see, it's a minor risk in relation to the big payday a small pair might offer you."
Suited connectors are another hand that is easier to work with because you'll be able to connect with them more often. See the flop cheap and get out of the hand if you don't improve. Also, if you call a raise with say 6-7 of hearts and the flop comes 6-6-2, your opponent has a big overpair but you might be able to win all of his chips. Your opponent may not believe that you'd call a raise with a six in your hand.
The articel concludes with this statement:
"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 very difficult to avoid getting trapped with a risky hand like top pair."
What do you think?
"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...While it's obvious that high cards are better than low cards, in most No Limit Hold'em situations, the little cards often have a better risk/reward ratio."
For example, hands like KJ, AJ, QJ or even KQ can run you into trouble becuase if you flop a pair with them, you'll often have kicker trouble. If someone decides to play against you after the flop, there is a good chance you're going to get beat. Chances are that you are walking into a set an AQ, a pair of kings, or a pair of aces.
These trouble hands can win you small pots when no one else hits the flop but you can lose monster pots because it's really difficult to fold after hiting top pair on the flop, especially if the other two cards on the flop are low.
The article is not saying never play a hand like KQ or AJ. It's just saying that you need to proceed cautiously. Don't get too attached to your top pair if a quality opponent is betting hard.
Small pocket pair is much easier to work with becuase either you hit the flop big or you have a hand with very little value.
The article gives an 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. 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 fours without risking another chip. As you can see, it's a minor risk in relation to the big payday a small pair might offer you."
Suited connectors are another hand that is easier to work with because you'll be able to connect with them more often. See the flop cheap and get out of the hand if you don't improve. Also, if you call a raise with say 6-7 of hearts and the flop comes 6-6-2, your opponent has a big overpair but you might be able to win all of his chips. Your opponent may not believe that you'd call a raise with a six in your hand.
The articel concludes with this statement:
"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 very difficult to avoid getting trapped with a risky hand like top pair."
What do you think?
