How strong is KJ?

[Baseballer02]

KJo and KJs are usually open-raises for me in MP and LP, and I'll usually raise after an EP limper or an EP limper and MP limper. A situation has come up about 3 times today that I'm not sure how strong I should consider my hand. What would be your move here with no reads?

You're dealt KJo on the button.
UTG, UTG+1, and UTG+2 all limp, and then it's folded to you. Do you raise or call?

What about KJs?

Edit: This is for limits 1/2, 2/4, and 3/6.

[Fryguy]

I tend to limp both, while sometimes raising KJs. KJo gets it's power strictly from high card. If you flop a J or a K, you don't want to give odds to other people. It's not a powerhouse hand that can afford lots of action with people already in. You raising does nothing at this point except pad the pot while you have what might not be the best hand.

KJs though, if you flop the flush draw, can be a huge win.

[milesdyson]

it depends. i raise KJs about 99.9999% of the time there, along with 99.9990% for QJs. this is from pokertracker, where i've played about 47 million hands at those limits and missed a raise once because a 4.01221103% VPIP player limped UTG+1.

[fizzleboink]

After 3 limpers I'll limp with KJ as well and see the flop. Proceed with extreme caution if these are reasonably tight limpers. Otherwise I'll play it the same as you. I don't think you have much of an edge to push pre-flop.

KJs is a raise from me however.

[Bodhi]

KJo I limp, KJs I raise. Fwiw, I open-raise KJs utg and fold KJo.

[SlantNGo]

The key difference when playing with 3 limpers is how well the hand plays multiway. This is where suitedness is a huge advantage. KJ has a small equity edge pre-flop, so it's better to call and push a bigger edge on the flop (unless the range of hands that your limpers are playing is so huge that KJ holds a significant edge). KJs plays well multiway and should be raised.

Note that this doesn't just apply for KJ. It applies as well for AJ and KQ. The only difference is that AJ and KQ require tighter limpers before their edge over the limpers hands becomes insignificant.

[Rev. Good Will]

[ QUOTE ]
KJo I limp, KJs I raise. Fwiw, I open-raise KJs utg and fold KJo.

[/ QUOTE ]

same, although occasional raise for all donktastic limpers (VPIP 50+)