Pocket Queens Strategy

 Pocket Queens Strategy

A pair or more of queens is almost always the best hand to play in No Limit Texas Holdem. But, this hand can be problematic pre-flop. You will most likely be playing against the hands you are truly afraid of if you get into a raising war. You should also be very careful after the flop. An over-card to your pair can be dangerous. It is possible to get'married' to it. If you feel you are losing, you can fold.

This article will examine how to play queens in different situations, both before and afterwards the flop. You will also be influenced by the betting style and tendencies of your opponents as well as the stack sizes relative to the blinds.

Comparing pocket Queens with other hands

The odds of your pair of queens being up against either kings, aces or kings is low statistically. You should however, be aware that if betting is very heavy prior to the flop, then you need to evaluate the situation carefully and consider the tendencies and ranges of your opponent. While it can be hard to fold pocket queens before the flop, it is possible if your opponent is betting in a way that is different from pocket Kings and Aces.

Example: You raise preflop and get retried. Your opponent's read should help you make a decision about whether you want to call for the flop, or raise again before the flop. If your opponent is very tight and will only re-raise using aces, queens or ace-kings then you can calculate the probability of each by card distribution.

This table shows 16 possibilities of getting dealt an Ace-King before the flop. There are 6 options for each pair. With Ace-King being 57%, the probability that your opponent holds aces and kings is approximately 43%. This situation is one of two: you're either a small favorite (or a huge underdog) - the probability that your opponent folds those times when he has Ace King and none of these cards are available will decide whether or not you see the flip.

It is more likely that your hand will be the best against a looser opponent, even if you re-raise. A habitual re-raiser may put you in a position that you are the dominant hand, such as against Ace-Queen and a pair of Jacks.

Position.

In this instance, your position at table and the effectiveness of your stacks will have a greater impact on your strategy than card distribution. Re-raising is appropriate when the looser raiser is not to your immediate right. This will keep you from being called by more people and make sure that you are in the best position to win the pot. It is easy to lose your hand strength by calling raises and then seeing two or three more people in the pot.

A re-raised position in a hand may not result in an ace or king being dealt on the flop. Your opponent will be able to act on the flop before you are, so a small continuation bet might help you win the pot. If your opponent is out of position, a small bet can often signify weakness. This probe will help to find out more about your hand. You should re-raise here, and plan to fold to an All-In check-raise.

Consider stack sizes.

No-limit Holdem will impact how you play any hand. A pair with queens is an especially sensitive hand. It has been discussed how to avoid re-raises from a deep stack. But, you will need to consider shallow stack play that is often seen in tournament situations.

When your stack reaches 10%, raising and re-raising queens with blinds and an antes equals the optimal play. You will have a wider range of opponents in a shorter stack situation. If a player is in position, a three-bet all in is more likely to result in an under-pair to the queens than the dreaded Aces or Kings. This situation will offer you the additional benefit of all-in, which can boost your stack by using the blinds and antes.

It's a difficult spot.

It is not uncommon to be dealt a pair if queens at an early table. While a raise is the default play here, loose tables could have 2, 3, or even more callers prior to the flop. This is where your judgement of the meaning of your opponents' wagers becomes critical, particularly since you will not be closing the betting action after the flip.

In this case, raising and even re-raising your opponent's bet is better than calling and checking the opponent's bet. Your opponent's hand will be reduced if there are draws. If your opponent is willing to take all in on a 'dryflop' like 2-7-J, it is worth assessing whether they are willing to only 3-bet with sets or if they think their acejack holdings are good.

Evaluation of pocket queens strategy.

To summarize, playing with a pair queens requires you to combine your hand strength before the flip, your position at table, and your judgement of your opponent's raises and bets. This will help you decide how to handle this difficult hand. Should You Hold or Fold Pocket Queens?