Badly Played Poker Hands

Written by Gary Steele - Programmer of The Edge - www.TheEdgePoker.com
Poker Software for Tracking Opponent’s Statistics

There are four Texas Hold’em Poker Hands I see get over-played regularly. I started thinking about this subject last night when I took someone’s entire stake at a no-limit table due to their overconfidence in two pair. When I win a big hand like that, I usually spend the next 15 minutes concentrating on not going on tilt (if you have read my previous articles you know you have to play your game 100% of the time; do not let emotions change your style). Then, when I am through playing and under control, I always make time to learn from what happened during the session by looking back at how hands were played. This is a great way to improve your game. I actually started doing this after watching an interview with Phil Ivey where he says he does the same. I have learned a lot about my game through this technique.

Here are four hands you have to play carefully. All four of these hands are regularly beaten, and all four are typically over-played:

• Flush with four spades on the table and a low kicker;
• Straight with cards on the low end in your hand;
• High pair;
• Two pair.

Flush with four clubs on the table and a low kicker:

Hole Cards: Ace Diamonds, Eight Clubs
Community Cards: Two, Three, Nine, Ten Clubs - Three Hearts

The 4th most over-played is the Flush with a bad kicker. There are two problems with betting hard or re-raising with this hand. First, there are four clubs left which beat the eight out there. Second, there is a pair of threes on the board making a Full House possible. It does not matter how hard you bet this, you will not chase the Ace of Clubs or a Full House out of the hand. I would call a small bet if the odds are right, but I don’t recommend bluffing at it. If you are going to bluff, don’t throw your entire bankroll into it. You can’t even tell a good Bad Beat story when you lose with this hand.

Straight with cards on the low end in your hand:

Hole Cards: Six Diamonds, Six Spades
Community Cards: Seven, Eight Clubs - Nine, Ten, Ace Hearts

This hand gives you a straight, six through ten. The problem here is it only takes a Jack to beat you and there is a possible flush on the board. Sure, you have a good hand you should play for a reasonable amount, but it is easily beatable and you will not be able to chase people out with a big bet if they have the Jack or the Flush. Play smart and conservative here.

High Pair:

Hole Cards: Ace, Queen Diamonds
Community Cards: Seven, Ace Clubs – Seven, Nine Hearts – Two Spades

One high pair is a close second to the most over-played hand (below). The only reason it does not take the top spot is because most people will not bet their entire stake on this hand. They may bet it hard, they may lose a lot, but it typically will not cost a player everything. If you have Ace, Queen suited and you do not raise heavily pre-flop, then you cannot be irritated at losing to someone who limped in with a hand like Jack, Seven in the big blind. Every day you will see people lose after betting hard with a pair of Aces, sometimes even when they have a small kicker like a five. There is nothing better than getting the chance to play for free in the big blind and flopping a set against the high pair.

Two Pair:

Hole Cards: Ace, Jack Diamonds
Community Cards: Seven, Ace Clubs – Ten, Jack Hearts – Three Spades

This is the exact scenario my opponent had last night. The Flop was Ace, Jack, Three, he is holding Ace, Jack and did not raise pre-flop. I am sitting in the big blind and get to play the hand for free. There is nothing more exciting than having top two pair on the flop, especially with someone else (me) betting for you. The hand just looks so good. You can’t help but think of all the hands you beat with it; pocket Kings, Big Slick, Ace/Seven. True, you cannot slow play top two pair, you have to bet it hard to get rid of the Flush and Straight draws, but please don’t bet everything on it. I was sitting there holding two threes, with a third on the board and was reluctant to call his all-in. I probably would not have if the pot odds had not been there for me. There is a Straight possibility here or a higher Three of a Kind. There is no reason to bet all-in. I used to do it myself regularly and in tournament play it is simply devastating. Always remember to play this hand with patience and skill.