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.