KQo - TP on monotone flop facing turn action

[pokernicus]

In the actual hand, I folded to the turn raise. The river was a 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. SB had two small diamonds for a flush made on the flop. MP3 had A2 with the A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] -- making trips on the river, but still having a second best hand.

Here was my reasoning. SB had checked the flop and lead the turn. This usually is a sign of a strong hand (especially given the monotone board. With five players to the flop, I figured there was a good chance someone made a flush on the flop.

So, SB represents a strong hand and MP3's donk-raise represented being able to beat a strong hand. I'm drawing dead to a flush figured that I was likely behind to at least one of these guys.

A few people recommended raising pre-flop. I usually draw the line for raising calling between KQs/KQo. In this case, I was in early position, so thought limping in would be reasonable. In retrospect, in this hand, a raise would probably have won me the pot (as SB might have folded his two small diamonds!)

Still, is limping in pre-flop with KQo in early position a really bad idea? Should I usually be raising in this situation?

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Still, is limping in pre-flop with KQo in early position a really bad idea? Should I usually be raising in this situation?

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I've found raising KQo really makes it easier to play. Not to surprising, as it's a top pair hand, and not very good multiway. KQs plays fine multiway, and it's almost easier to limp in and invite others along for the ride. Still, I usually raise both of 'em. Depends a bit on the table, but not all that much.

In fact, I'm going to really stress this point -- I love raising KQo from EP. Much more than AJo, which is the breaking point for most people on raise/call/fold and often gets discussed in the same breath. KQo is much easier to play from the flop on than AJ.

[Nick C]

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In fact, I'm going to really stress this point -- I love raising KQo from EP. Much more than AJo, which is the breaking point for most people on raise/call/fold and often gets discussed in the same breath. KQo is much easier to play from the flop on than AJ.

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I used to prefer KQo to AJo, but I changed my mind when I moved up to 5/10 and my EP preflop raises began frequently getting me heads-up with the BB.

Now I like the extra showdown value of AJo.

And, to be honest, I'm not crazy about either hand anymore, if the action behind me doesn't fold to the blinds. It's not much fun playing OOP against a cold-caller or 3-bettor who's got a better hand (or at least a hand like 66 that you're chasing).

All the same, I continue raising AJo and KQo in EP.