| K-J suited |
| Introduction: Every now and then, in the most
popular poker forums available on the internet, someone will ask the question 'What is the
worst starting hand possible in Texas holdem Poker?' The first couple of answers will be
7-2 off suit up to 10-2 off suit, and 2-3 off suit. But after a few posts nearly always
someone will mention King-Jack, suited or not. Is this a joke? No, not really. Although
King-Jack is quite a strong hand when you look at odds tables in Heads-up poker or at
starting hand requirements tables (please stop using those when you get more experienced!)
you will see that King-Jack is not too bad at all. So why is it mentioned in a 'Worst
starting hand' discussion then? Because of it's potential to be the second highest hand at
the showdown. Hands like 7-2, 2-3 (straightpossibilities?), 10-2 you will fold at once if
you are not in the Big Blind and can see the Flop checking. But King-Jack you will most
likely play, late position or not. If a King flops, there is the chance that the jack as a
kicker is not good enough (along with the chance that an Ace will come later or someone
flopped a set etc...). And when an opponent starts to show aggression after a King on the
Flop. What do you do then? If a Jack flops as highest card, giving you Top Pair with very strong kicker, there is still a good chance of an Queen or Ace on the turn or river. The fact that this hand finishes second at the showdown is the reason that many players regards King-jack as one of the weakest hands to have in Texas Holdem Poker. But they are wrong ofcourse! (now he tells us!) It is not a weak starting hand at all. It is quite strong if played by an experienced player. In Medium Limit or Higher Limit I would fold it in early position, but in late position (or any position in low Limit) I would play it. King-Jack is a winner in the hands of a winning Poker player, but probably a *big* looser in the hands of a beginner. It is a difficult hand. Action point: If you are using software like PokerStat or Poker Tracker and you have a hand history database of at least 20.000 hands please have a look at your statistics for King-Jack suited or not as pocket cards. Do you make a profit? |
| Hand # | Hand | Theme | Game | Date entered |
| 8 | K-Js | Turn: A Pair on the Board | Pot Limit | 26-05-2002 |
| Introduction: |
| PokerStars Game #########: Tournament #2010, Hold'em Pot Limit -
Level II (15/30) Table '2010 5' Seat #8 is the button Seat 1: Player 1 (2905 in chips) Seat 2: Player 2 (1265 in chips) Seat 3: Player 3 (620 in chips) Seat 6: Player 6 (1555 in chips) Seat 7: Player 7 (2580 in chips) Seat 8: Player 8 (3270 in chips) Seat 9: Our Hero (1305 in chips) Our Hero: posts small blind 15 Player 1: posts big blind 30 *** HOLE CARDS *** Dealt to Our Hero [Kd Jd] Player 2: folds Player 3: folds Player 6: folds Player 7: folds Player 8: calls 30 Our Hero: calls 15 Player 1: checks |
| Early in the tournament, this was my best starting hand so far. Not a raising hand at this moment. |
   *** FLOP *** [Jc 2h 9h] Our Hero: bets 60 Player 1: folds Player 8: calls 60 |
| Having Top Pair with a good kicker is very good in tournament Hold'em Poker. Since this is Pot Limit Hold'em I have to put money in the pot straight away in order to make a bigger raise later on. |
 *** TURN *** [Jc 2h 9h] [9s] Our Hero: bets 90 Player 8: calls 90 |
| The board pairs which is very dangerous, but slowing down and checking would be a huge mistake. This would be a sign to my single opponent that the second 9 did not help me and I would face a raise the size of the pot. Player 8 called which is also a bit weak. Either the 9 did help him/her and he/she is slowplaying, or the 9 did not help him/her in which case he/she did not give me a lot information. |
 *** RIVER *** [Jc 2h 9h 9s] [7s] Our Hero: bets 150 Player 8: raises 150 to 300 Our Hero: folds |
| My bet was a bet to gain information. It was big enough to scare an opponent with a weak hand off. And not too big to criple my stack too much. Player 8 raised and I can only fold. |
| Player 8 collected 690 from pot Player 8: doesn't show hand *** SUMMARY *** Total pot 690 | Rake 0 Board [Jc 2h 9h 9s 7s] Seat 1: Player 1 (big blind) folded on the Flop Seat 2: Player 2 folded before Flop (didn't bet) Seat 3: Player 3 folded before Flop (didn't bet) Seat 6: Player 6 folded before Flop (didn't bet) Seat 7: Player 7 folded before Flop (didn't bet) Seat 8: Player 8 (button) collected (690) Seat 9: Our Hero (small blind) folded on the River |
| Conclusion: Player 8 played this hand really well. Not giving me information when i wanted it, and raising an amount on the river that a weaker player than myself would have called. |
