How to Play Queens After the Flop
SCENARIO 17
Now suppose you are in late poker position next to the button with introduction:
Before the flop, action All raises the pot to holdem poker game $100, Passive Paul calls Behind Al, and everyone else folds to you. You reraise to $300. The blinds fold, but Al calls your raise and so does Paul. The pot now has $935 in advanced poker play.
The flop comes:
Action Al is first to act and moves all in with the rest of his chips. Paul folds. Now it is up to you.
What's Your Move?
A. Fold. Action Al probably has a straight no limit holdem
B. Call
Analysis
In making your decision, you have to ask yourself some questions. What would Action Al move in with here? Maybe A-J, Q-J, or maybe with nothing. With his style of online play poker he might just be trying to win the pot with a total bluff (absolutely nothing). If he had made a straight on the flop, he probably would just check and hope that someone bets Behind him so that he can raise.
Next question: What is the strength of your hand? You have an overpair to the flop, plus an open-end straight draw hand.
After thinking it through poker, the answer becomes obvious. You must call (Option B).
SCENARIO 18
Now suppose you are in the big blind with the Q ? Q ?. The players all fold around to Reckless Rick on the button. Rick raises to $100 and the small blind folds. You reraise him to $300 and he calls. The pot now has $610 in it. The flop comes:
It is your turn to act.
What's Your Move?
A. Move in with your remaining $ 700
B. Bet $300
C. Check the game
Analysis
You are going to play this online poker hand all the way. Reckless Rick is the type of player who might raise with any two cards and, if you show any kind of weakness in your play, he will bet. If you bet at him, he will probably fold. The flop is a safe one with no big draws-Rick would need to have a 4-3 in his hand to have an open-end straight draw. We give Rick more credit than just having a 4-3.
In order to make the maximum on this hand, check © and then raise all in if Rick bets. By checking you may deceive Rick into shifting thinking that you have an A-K and missed the flop. In that case, he may try to steal the pot. Surprise him!
Playing Big Pairs: Jacks
How to Play Jacks Before the Flop
A pair of jacks is a hand that needs to be played with extreme caution both before and after the flop. Jacks can run into a pair of aces, kings or queens Before the flop and when an ace, king or queen comes on the flop, you will fear that someone has hit an over card games.
In the early rounds of a tournament, try not to play a big pot with pocket jacks unless you flop a set (three of a kind).