KQo in middle position??

There are some tables online where 50% of your opponents see the flop on full table.


You are in a game like this, and two or three people have limped to you. You have KQo or AJo. What do you do here and why?


A big raise seems to invite calamity. A call is equally risky, as you need a MONSTER to play with after the flop... and you still might lose. A fold somehow seems like bad poker.


I look forward to your responses!


-Marlow

KQo and AJo both suffer from the classic "win a small pot or lose a big pot" syndrome. I might limp them, hoping to flop very good. Like top two, or trip jacks (in the AJ case) or a str8draw (with KQ). Theese hands do not like implied odds so they do not fare well in NL games.


If you have a short stack you should raise big enough to reduce the implied odds of the limpers. If you have a large stack.. Thats trickier. I usually play them but very very carefully... I don't see anyting wrong in folding them preflop to even modest action.


Sincerely, Andreas

With a big stack:

Just limp and hope two of you hit two pairs.

The KQ is also a straight draw.


With a medium or small stack - use your tournament brain, which is that AJ and KQ suck.

I have had some friends here in NZ ask me recently what they can do to improve their no limit game.


The first question i asked them is do they call raises with AQ. Secondly i asked if they limp in behind others with KQo or QJo. They said yes, i told them to stop doing it, and those that did started winning.

Excellent advice!! Thanks to all y'all!


There's no doubt about it, those hands are poison in that situation. I'll bring it into my game immediately!


Thanks again,


Marlow

do yourself a favor and muck KQo in a NO-LIMIT GAME, this hand could prove to be very very costly...I never play KQo, let alone KQs in no limit...with a full ring game, I never play AQ, the only AQ I play is suited....


DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE!!!!

Marlow,


In the right, i.e., passive, type of game, I might consider limping in NL with K-Q or A-J offsuit, but even there, I'd err on the side of caution. I'ts too easy to get trapped- it's happened to me, and I've watched not a few others

buy it with these cards when they get a cheap look

and latch onto something, ultimately to their detriment.


perfidious