When would you consider folding this?

[WSOP Bound]

[ QUOTE ]
So I should always be raising KQs early like that? Since I am kind of new I am using a starting hands chart out of a book and it says to just call early with KQs and fold if it has been raised. Is calling -EV here? Or, wait, I was first in, so I should be raising first in, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

I struggled with this for a long time because KQs just never seemed worth a raise to me PF. I've gotten better at raising it in EP/MP, but I am often still often uncomfortable with it. My thinking is that the idea behind the raise is that when you are playing it for high card value (which ends up being a majority of the flops) the hand plays best against as few opponents as possible.

[imported_The Vibesman]

With a top pair hand like this, yes, I think raising first in is better than calling. A hand like this, you can win by catching just one card a lot of the time against a smaller field. Open-limping is generally only good for hands like small pocket pairs or small suited connectors on loose-passive tables where you can almost count on getting a good amount of limpers after you and hardly anyone ever raises.

There are those that post here who believe if you never open-limped, that would be fantastic.

[imported_The Vibesman]

[ QUOTE ]
My thinking is that the idea behind the raise is that when you are playing it for high card value (which ends up being a majority of the flops) the hand plays best against as few opponents as possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is exactly why I raise.

[Bradyams]

[ QUOTE ]
So I should always be raising KQs early like that?

[/ QUOTE ]

Think about the hands that your opponents generally limp in with or call two bets cold pre-flop with. It's not uncommon to see hands like A5o, T8o, 95s, and any trash like that. If you know these players will call your raises with hands that are inferior to yours then by raising you make money (raise for value). Therefore it is pretty much always correct to raise KQs pre-flop, and some worse hands (KQo, & AJo for example).

[Bradyams]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My thinking is that the idea behind the raise is that when you are playing it for high card value (which ends up being a majority of the flops) the hand plays best against as few opponents as possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is exactly why I raise.

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't raise to thin the field. You raise for value cause you will often be called with worse hands. If I raise KQs UTG, I wouldn't be complaining if every player on the table called my raise.

[JRF2k]

[ QUOTE ]
What book?

[/ QUOTE ]

Internet Texas Holdem by Matthew Hilger

[Runin]

I think you need to raise PF. This is going to help you later in this hand with narrowing down your opponents hand. Not sure why you didn't 3-bet the flop. Again, I'm betting out on the turn after I 3-bet the flop. This is all coming back to the PF raise for me to help identify villian's possible hands. I'm not sure I'm folding this unless villian caps every street, even then it would depend on my read of him and what hands I could put him on.

[ThaSaltCracka]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What book?

[/ QUOTE ]

Internet Texas Holdem by Matthew Hilger

[/ QUOTE ]stop reading that immediately.

[aces_dad]

I have never read that book. Period.

And I'm waving my finger at Rafi I say this.

[baronzeus]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So I should always be raising KQs early like that?

[/ QUOTE ] Depending on the table this is usually the right play. [ QUOTE ]
Since I am kind of new I am using a starting hands chart out of a book and it says to just call early with KQs and fold if it has been raised.

[/ QUOTE ]What book? Don't fold to one bet PF with this hand.

[/ QUOTE ]


I think he's saying if it was raised before you, fold for 2 cold. I'm positive hilger doesn't mean fold when it comes back 1 bet to you.

I have read parts of the book and it has provided me with a lot of insight. It is a good book.