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.
Pocket Kings on real flops
Precomputed equity vs a random hand once the flop is out. Each link jumps straight to the KK row.
- KK on A K Q rainbow : the board that smashes a premium range
- KK on 8 7 6 two-tone : the wet middle board that makes big pairs sweat
- KK on A A 8 : a paired ace board
Know the hand? Now play it for real.
Practice these spots against opponents who punish the wrong move.