Playing KJ or QJ in early position ?

RickAversion · Aug 2, 2014

This happened a few times. Very early position, maybe even blinds. Passive table, so I just limp for $2. Maybe I get to see the flop for $2, if a raise, I will just fold since so out of position.

Flop = A X X
V generally bets like $10
Hero folds.

Is this standard play?

GeoJake · Aug 2, 2014

What format?

How many players?

How many blinds deep are you?

DonV73 · Aug 2, 2014

I don't clearly understand your question but in general in wouldn't play those type of hands for early position.

es530 · Aug 2, 2014

I made several mistakes lately, yet I will make a comment. open in early position with QJ not think it's a good deal.

akaRobbo · Aug 2, 2014

Limping from early position with KJo? Standard for many 2nl players maybe.

Thinker_145 · Aug 2, 2014

I only open QJo on the button and sometimes in the CO and don't defend my BB with it except vs the SB.

KJo is a better hand but I still don't open it in early position.

These 2 are reasonable hands to limp behind in any position. Never call a raise OOP and calling IP is only a good idea against fish who can stack off without much of a hand and nits who are easy to bluff.

Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

teepack · Aug 2, 2014

Agreed. QJ in particular is a terrible hand to raise with in an early position. Just think about what do you do if you get a 3bet behind you? Are you going to call and throw away even more chips on a hand that you are most likely behind in before the flop?

hffjd2000 · Aug 3, 2014

It depends.

Sometimes you enter, sometimes you fold.

Many factors like table dynamics, your image, no. of players enter etc.

But in general, folding is the wise choice.

Thinker_145 · Aug 3, 2014

teepack said:
Agreed. QJ in particular is a terrible hand to raise with in an early position. Just think about what do you do if you get a 3bet behind you? Are you going to call and throw away even more chips on a hand that you are most likely behind in before the flop?

While I agree that QJ is a really mediocre hand but that isn't the reason not to open a hand in early position. I generally fold KQ/AJ to a 3 bet OOP but does that mean I shouldn't be opening it in early position? I also don't like calling 3 bets OOP with small pairs.

Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

RickAversion · Aug 3, 2014

These hands might be decent in head's up, right?
But, in such early position, you just don't know how many people will enter.
So, it seems like a good fold, but if you HAD to play it, you should have a strong raise to narrow down to one person, right?

Thinker_145 · Aug 3, 2014

RickAversion said:
These hands might be decent in head's up, right?
But, in such early position, you just don't know how many people will enter.
So, it seems like a good fold, but if you HAD to play it, you should have a strong raise to narrow down to one person, right?

Yup they are good heads up.

What is a strong raise? You should always be raising the same amount pre with all your hands unless in very particular circumstances.

You can vary your pre raise with position like always raising 4x early, 3x middle and 2.5x on the button. But don't vary it with the hand you have.

Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

GDZzz · Aug 3, 2014

Full ring, you'd do best to fold these. Maybe in 6-max or heads up if they are suited I could see a reason for opening with these.

crocoduck11 · Aug 3, 2014

I don't think most players would recommend starting with those from EP but if you are confident they won't get raised before the flop then I'd say go with it (they are still pretty decent hands )
Now, assuming you are confident you don't get raised and that happens then yes, fold, no need to get yourself in trouble for no reason ( + if I remember right passive players rarely raise so that should send alarms )

mange1234 · Aug 3, 2014

Suited or unsuited

RickAversion said:
This happened a few times. Very early position, maybe even blinds. Passive table, so I just limp for $2. Maybe I get to see the flop for $2, if a raise, I will just fold since so out of position.

Flop = A X X
V generally bets like $10
Hero folds.

Is this standard play?

It depends on if the QJ are suited or not, and what was the raise. If the raise was high I would fold. Unless I was on tilt. lol

Under the gun is not a nice place to be.

But don't listen to me. I lose most of the time.

mike :musicus:

mange1234 · Aug 3, 2014

Small Pair

Thinker_145 said:
While I agree that QJ is a really mediocre hand but that isn't the reason not to open a hand in early position. I generally fold KQ/AJ to a 3 bet OOP but does that mean I shouldn't be opening it in early position? I also don't like calling 3 bets OOP with small pairs.

Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

I agree to never call a three bet with a small pair. With a small pair, I would call the bb if it is not to high. And, fold If I don't hit a set. just fishing.

But, that's just me.

mike

Four Dogs · Aug 3, 2014

I generally just fold these in EP. I might bring it in for a small raise with the suited versions but even that's a small loser. I only do it because it's good for your soul. But really, just don't bother with them in EP. Honestly, if there was a way to set up an auto fold for the first 3 EP's I think 90% of players would see their win rate sky rocket.

mange1234 · Aug 9, 2014

KJ or QJ early position

KJ or QJ in early position, are they suited? I would limp and hope the flop will improve my hand. If not, I fold.

However, if I flop a drawing hand, and the pot is right, I may chase, if price not too expensive and I have a healthy stack.

Depends on so many factors. Poker is very complicated and questions can not be answered in a yes or no.

But, that's me,

mike

Salvete777 · Aug 9, 2014

I always try to get away from cards like these. With these cards I call just 1-3 bb's preflop. If flop is empty then of course fold.

revskip · Aug 9, 2014

I am very wary of playing anything but premium hands in EP. In MP I would probably lead with either of those hands and certainly in later position but coming in early they are getting dumped barring some unusual conditions.

skiptomyloot · Aug 10, 2014

is it 6 max or 9 handed. heads up . Kj OR qj is ok to call or raise preflop. 6max, raise preflop, 9 handed fold out of position. I would play in position, but if your opponent calls, he can easily trap when you got a hand like KJ. that hand is dangerous, i hate it.

shawkid · Aug 10, 2014

worst thing about playing KJ or QJ is even if you flop 2 pair your opponent will most likely be on a straight draw or vice versa. In my opinion those are coin flip cards to play in any position.

thatgreekdude · Aug 10, 2014

Unless it's suited just fold it pre, don't ever open limp it's just bad and you'll get punished by better players.

alunelu33 · Aug 10, 2014

I would fold too. In a ring game its very hard to call with air post flop. I think its better to open from early with that kind of hands.

Thinker_145 · Aug 10, 2014

shawkid said:
worst thing about playing KJ or QJ is even if you flop 2 pair your opponent will most likely be on a straight draw or vice versa. In my opinion those are coin flip cards to play in any position.

lol no 2 pair is way ahead of an open ended straight draw even with an over card. Even if someone does have a pair or a flush draw to go with it you are still not behind. 2 pair is almost never behind a draw and at worst its a flip.

If we have a straight draw then we gotta play it like its supposed to be played. If you are bad at playing draws then that goes with any hand and has nothing to do with these 2 hands in particular.

The biggest problem with KJ/QJ is when your top pair is out kicked which happens way too often especially with QJ. Generally I fold top pair with these hands on the turn if someone is betting strong.

Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

tothbopo · Aug 10, 2014

I normally would not play that kind of hands in early position.

After the river it would often end up being one pair with high kicker no top kicker.

And often it will be a loosing hand.

Played heads up it would be ok I think.

Playing KJ or QJ in early position ?

RickAversion

Visionary

GeoJake

Rising Star

DonV73

Visionary

es530

Legend

akaRobbo

Visionary

Thinker_145

Visionary

teepack

Legend

hffjd2000

Legend

Thinker_145

Visionary

RickAversion

Visionary

Thinker_145

Visionary

GDZzz

Rising Star

crocoduck11

Enthusiast

mange1234

Legend

mange1234

Legend

Four Dogs

Legend

mange1234

Legend

Salvete777

Rock Star

revskip

Enthusiast

skiptomyloot

Rock Star

shawkid

Enthusiast

thatgreekdude

Legend

alunelu33

Enthusiast

Thinker_145

Visionary

tothbopo

Legend

About CardsChat

Our Community

Our Site