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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

Premium
82.7%
Equity vs a random hand
6
Combos (of 1,326)
5/5
Seats that open it

Play 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.

vs AA: 17.8%vs AKo: 70%vs JTs: 79.7%vs 22: 82%

Know the hand? Now play it for real.

Practice these spots against opponents who punish the wrong move.

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