Raise With Your Big Hands Preflop
A common problem with many beginning Holdem players is that they do not raise with their big hands like they should. A player will pick up a big hand, such as pocket kings or aces and then decide that they will slow play the hand in order to try and get maximum value. This type of thinking in a lot of cases can lead to disaster. Let’s take a look at the reason that you should raise frequently with strong hands.
Big hands don’t come around all that often. While the argument that you should try and slow play the hand seems to make some sense, players fail to realize that they are taking away their statistical advantage when they slow play their hand. What happens is that other players will now get the opportunity to come into the pot cheap and can take a chance to hit the flop.
For example, let’s say you have pocket aces and just limp into the pot. Then a player limps into the pot with K-10 and another with Q-J. The flop hits Q-J-2. What you have effectively done in this hand is allow someone with a weak hand hit the flop big. If they bet hard into you, many times it’s going to be hard to let go of pocket aces in this spot and you are going to lose money.
The whole purpose behind raising pre-flop is to narrow the field and try to either take the pot right there, or to try and get the pot heads-up. Granted, there are going to be times where you will raise and you will get called by an inferior hand that catches lucky. This is part of poker.
You will see some players that will try and make some fancy plays slow playing big hands pre-flop. These types of moves are those made by players that are highly experienced or that are trying to trap a player. As you become a stronger player, you may want to think about these types of moves, but for now, play your big hands straight forward.
If you watch the pros, you will see that even they will raise with their big hands the majority of the time. Playing a solid game will year results long term. By playing your big hands for a raise pre-flop you help to protect your statistical advantage and will give yourself the best chance to win the hand.