playing pocket queens

Pocket Queens is a hand every poker player loves to see.

However, this starting hand also scares more players than you may realize because they don't know how to play them properly.

Recently, I was speaking with a newbie player and he told me how he consistently looses nearly every time he gets a starting hand of queens.

He got so frustrated that he started folding them before the flop! Can you imagine? I know. What a moron.

The first thing you must know is that pocket queens is a very strong and solid hand. Especially heads up. You can dominate most opponents when holding "Ladies" in a heads up game.

Let's now go over three key Texas Hold'em strategies when dealt this hand. Just follow this simple advice and you'll win huge pots!

Position

Like all your hands dealt, your table position is key. If you're in late position then pocket queens gets even stronger. But even from early position you can be confidently aggressive.

Pre-Flop Raise

When dealt "Ladies" as a starting hand its important to know that its unlikely that you'll get more help on the flop. Hitting trips probably won't happen.

So its vital to lay down an aggressive pre flop raise. You want to get rid of the suited connectors, low pocket pairs and opponents holding king or ace rag. Or even sometimes you'll push out someone holding king, jack. Typically raising 3 to 6 times the big blind is sufficient.

Be Willing to Fold

I've seen it happen many times. A person goes all in pre flop with pocket queens. His opponent has ace, rag. The flop comes out ace, 3, 7. Next thing you know the player is sent home because he got too aggressive pre-flop.

You want to be aggressive with pocket queens just not overly aggressive. By placing a substantial raise pre flop you push out all the crap. Then the people left you can bet they are sitting on an ace or a king.

When and if an ace or king hits on the flop you can be confident that you're beat. Now depending on your opponents play be willing to fold and live to play another hand. Its much better then going all in prematurely and being sent home.

If you're first to act when an ace or king hits on the flop. No problem. Simply lay down a bet of one-fourth to one-half of the pot. The opponents that don't have the ace or king will fold to your pocket queens. If they have it they'll raise you. If that happens. No problem. Fold it.

If an ace or king doesn't hit you can feel pretty confident about having the strongest hand. You just need to be aware of possible sets. A lot of people like to play small pocket pairs. Watch their betting patterns and know when they have the set. If you feel that they do. Fold it. If they don't have it. Be aggressive and take home a huge pot.
thanks to ezinearticles.com

hi ,
i couldnt agree more wot was put down i writing is pretty much how i play queens only thing i will add is if yr opponent and there usually is only one bets in 2 you out of position post flop with a king or ace on the flop hes probably donkin so a reraise or even flat call mite do 4 value, i prefer the reraise if he had the ace or king the check raise is more likely from him 2 see were he is .
cheers mark

hi
after me postin my almost knowin wot im talkin about bit on here i get said hand but after 8 beers i couldn quite recall wot i said so sum one min raised be4 me so i 3bet with my qs then get reraised by the bb the 8 beers sorta made it all fuzzy as the rite thing 2 do (which was 2 flat call and see if any kings or aces hit the flop , the re assessmy position) so i hit how dare ya reraise me mode , which funny enuff only kicks in after 8 beers and pushed all in. he calls with kk but the irony was an ace hit the flop which i mite have gotten away from if idve played it rite.carlsberg dont do donks but they can certainly turn me in 2 one.
cheers mark

lol