Pocket Queens No Limit Texas
Holdem Strategy
When it comes to playing
Texas Holdem I always recommend playing good
solid starting hands and pocket queens is
definitely one of the best starting hands
that you can get. I also recommend that
you change up how you play your hands, making
sure not to fall into consistent betting
patterns that might
tip off your opponents on what hand you may
have. I also usually like to play my good hands
aggressively.
Pocket
Queens, Q-Q is one of the best starting hands
that you can get. Only AA and KK are better.
Many players also prefer AK suited to Pocket
Queens but no matter how you look at it you've
been dealt a solid starting hand. Pocket Queens
is definitely a hand that should be played
aggressively. Since many players that are
holding an Ace or King in their hand like to
stick around for the flop to see if they pair
it, I try to make it expensive for them. Putting
in a good sized opening bet will make them think
twice about playing their hand and may get them
to fold.
If
you're seated in early position I'd recommend
raising the pot. This will do a couple of things
for us which is weed out some of the players and
also help build the pot. The better players that
don't have much of a hand will probably fold.
But the poor players at the table may call your
raise which helps to
build the pot.
As an
example, if I am playing in a $1/$2 no limit
holdem game, I'd probably put in a raise of $2.
Of course, you should adjust the amount of your
raise up or down based on the players at the
table. If you have a lot of bad players that
love to call bets upping your raise to $3 might
be a good idea.
If
you're seated in middle position I would
definitely raise. I would be asking myself a few
questions about the players at the table.
Are they strong players? Weak players?
What did they do when I raised from middle
position the last time? Did they call? Did they
raise? What cards were they holding?
Information like this can help you to
determine an appropriate bet size based on what
you want to do - drive out opponents, have them
call you, or have them
raise your bet. With a starting hand like QQ I
would most likely raise the pot similar to what
I recommended in early position.
If I'm
in late position and everyone has just called
the blinds then I would definitely raise the
pot. If an opponent made a sizeable raise from
early position I might just call their bet
especially if they were one of the better
players at the table.
Then
once the flop is dealt I'd look to see how it
matches up with my hand and how it might match
up with one of my opponents. Did I catch a Queen
on the flop to give me a set? Or maybe
one of my opponents might have a set, a flush
draw or straight draw. One of the main reasons
to raise a pot is to
limit the field and limit the number of
opponents that might catch a good flop that can
beat your hand.
Continue
to monitor your opponents betting patterns and
how they have played past hands and how they are
playing this current hand and try to figure out
what they might be holding. If you think you
have the best hand then raise. I'd want to thin
out the field and limit the number of players
that can catch a card
that might beat you. If you think you are beaten
and there is no way that you can win the hand
there is no shame in folding, even if it is a
strong hand like pocket queens that you are
folding. Winning players don't donate chips to
other players on hands that they have little or
no chance of winning.
I'd
continue this approach on the turn and river.
See how the turn and river cards match up with
your hand and if you feel they've improved your
opponents hand. If you
feel that your pocket queens are still holding
up as the best hand, then raise. If you think
you are beat then fold.
Learning
how to play pocket queens and other Texas Holdem
hands correctly takes practice and experience.
You can practice and play Texas Holdem for free
in any of our
recommended online poker rooms.
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