How do you play pocket kings?
Pocket kings is the second-best starting hand in poker, so you raise and re-raise it for value and only worry about an ace once the flop actually brings one.
Pocket Kings
PremiumPlay it almost exactly like aces before the flop: raise, and re-raise when someone opens ahead of you. The fear of running into aces costs players far more than the rare times it happens, so do not fold kings preflop in a normal cash game. After the flop, an ace on board is a real signal to slow down against serious pressure, but most flops miss the ace and you are still crushing.
This hand opens for a raise from every position, including under the gun.
Common mistake: Playing scared. Folding kings preflop because someone might have aces, or shutting down every time a low card hits, both leave money on the table.
Quick tip: One ace on the board out of every five flops, give or take. The other four times you are still ahead.
All-in equity before the flop
How Pocket Kings runs against a few benchmark hands if all the money goes in preflop. Figures from the Poker Shark equity engine.
Know the hand? Now play it for real.
Practice these spots against opponents who punish the wrong move.