KJs UTG....to raise or not to raise

[PokerBob]

Here are 2 hands I played recently. Rip me.

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
Hero calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, <font color="CC3333">MP2 raises</font>, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (5.50 SB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players) </font>
<font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="CC3333">MP2 raises</font>, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players) </font>
Hero checks, <font color="CC3333">MP2 bets</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: 5.75 BB
<font color="#990066">Main Pot: 4.75 BB, won by MP2.</font>
<font color="#990066">Pot 2: 1 BB, overbet by MP2.</font>

Results in white below: <font color="white">
No showdown. MP2 wins 5.75 BB. </font>


Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
Hero calls, <font color="CC3333">UTG+1 raises</font>, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (5.50 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players) </font>
Hero checks, <font color="CC3333">UTG+1 bets</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: 3.25 BB
<font color="#990066">Main Pot: 2.75 BB, won by UTG+1.</font>
<font color="#990066">Pot 2: 0.50 BB, overbet by UTG+1.</font>

Results in white below: <font color="white">
No showdown. UTG+1 wins 3.25 BB. </font>

[Bob T.]

At 1-2 limp, and try and make money postflop. At about 3-6 online, I would start openraising.

Good luck,
play well,

Bob T.

[JARID]

Its pretty, so pretty, isn't it? I think you really have to be careful not to over estimate the value of KJ though.
IMO the play of KJ in early position is highly game dependant. Only in the most loose-passive of games would I consider an open raise UTG/EP with KJ. For example, if I know many at the table will play Q9s or K10 for two just the same as they will for one, then I would raise to build a bigger pot when I hit my hand.
However, if there are aggressive players at the table, I am looking to follow a limper and probably fold UTG. If you raise and then get three bet you have to believe that you are in very bad shape. KJ is a dog to good hands in so many ways.

Regards,
~J