How to Play Pocket Queens in No-Limit Texas Hold'em

[jayman2411]

How to Play Pocket Queens in No-Limit Texas Hold'em
Pocket Queens, or The Ladies, is third most powerful starting hand in No-Limit Hold'em.

Pocket Queens



Preflop Play
The way you play QQ preflop depends on the position you are in. Often, you will be in there raising with your pair of queens. You want to go to the flop facing only one or two opponents.

Early Position
When no one has raised before you, you should make a strong opening raise of about 4 BB to 5 BB. The amount also depends on how loose or tight the game is. If the game is very loose, you may even have to raise to 6 BB or more. Your objective is to narrow the field down to 1 or 2 opponents.

If the pot has been raised, reraise by the amount that is in the pot. Example, if there is an opening raise of 4 BB and two callers, including the blinds, there is a total of 15 BB. You should make it 15 BB to play.

Middle Position
Again, when no one has raised in front of you, you should raise to about 4 BB to discourage weak holdings from calling. Reraise by the amount that is in the pot if the pot has been raised.

Late Position
If the pot is unraised, with only a few more players and the blinds left, you can reduce the size of your opening raise to 3 BB. Again, limit the field with a pot sized reraise if there is a raised pot. Ideally, you want to go to the flop against a single opponent.

Playing the Flop
With a pair of queens in hand, you normally enter the flop strong. However, as with all pocket pairs, the chance of improving your hand on the flop is slim. The odds of making a set is only 1 in 8.

Flopping Aces or Kings
This is a flop you don't want to see when holding QQ. When it happens, fire off a continuation bet and hope the other guy fold. If you face any resistance, it's time to fold.

Flopping Undercards
A very common flop and a pretty good one when you are holding pocket queens. With an overpair, you are likely to be holding the best hand. As usual, bet strong here to make drawing hands pay to play.

Flopping a Set
A huge flop for anyone holding pocket queens. The potential payoff is huge. While you still need to protect your hand from drawing hands by betting out, the good news is that even if your opponent manages to make that straight or flush, there is a good chance you can beat him with a full house by the river.

Playing The Turn and the River
As you have only 2 outs when playing QQ, most of the time, you should be folding when there is a reraise on the turn or river.

Your opponent will reraise you when he hit his draw or he has been slowplaying his set, or if he is bluffing. However, its usually wiser to lose a small pot to the occasional bluff than to lose many big pots where you have been beaten.

Even if you hit your third queen here, you must be careful that the queen did not make someone else's straight or flush.

All-in Preflop
Unless you are playing a loose live game and your bankroll is healthy, I don't recommend you go all-in preflop with pocket queens. Save your money and do it when you are dealt pocket kings or pocket aces.

[Manne]

Thanks again great article

[milkman1012]

Now if i can only be disapline enough to use it. Thanks

[ixgames]

Excellent tips on pocket queen strategy. My tip is to read this a couple of times during a week of period. Playing texas hold'em along the way, training and memorizing tips and strategies like this.

[florinAA]

nice article thx a bunch

[coolhandmike1]

another good article. hopefully it can improve my play a little

[kennex]

Excellent article jayman. Thanks

[wooo]

great read
until now i just go allin

[wooo]

just got jacks
middle pos
i bet 4 times bigblinds
everyone folded but the button who went allin
just me and him
was going to fold but had 2times his chips so went allin
he had A Q
there was a K AND 10 IN FLOP
so he had there outs
but i help up to win the pot
was going to try the QQ advice above for my JJ
only got th begining of it befor allin fold was the only things letf
thanks