I was playing a cash game online and I got pocket Kings. If someone else keeps raising me pre-flop, should I go all-in or should I hold back in case he has pocket Aces?
asked Aug 17, 2014 at 22:48
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This is a little broad given the multitude of possible situations where this might happen. Can you add some details about the game you were playing when this situation occured ? Was it a cash game, a tournament, micro-stakes, early in the tournament, final table etc. ?– Radu MurzeaCommented Aug 18, 2014 at 4:50
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@RaduMurzea Just a plain cash game, online poker.– CaptainCodemanCommented Aug 18, 2014 at 10:53
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1I added the details you mentioned to the question :)– Radu MurzeaCommented Aug 19, 2014 at 9:05
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@RaduMurzea Thanks man, and thanks for fixing my n00b terminology :D– CaptainCodemanCommented Aug 19, 2014 at 20:05
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i went all in with KK twice today. Both times got caught by AA. i guess i gotta fold KK from now on– brianCommented Jun 26, 2018 at 3:32
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8 Answers
Well, I'd have to say "it depends". If you are going against AA then you are a 4 to 1 dog. Not a good situation. If you are playing against a super-rock (TAG) then it might be a fair bet that their super-aggressive play is advertising AA. However, those players are fairly rare and the average TAG is capable of going over the top with AKs, in which case you are a major favorite (~2 to 1). This is especially true, IME, in tournament play. In fact, the only hand you fear is AA - at least heads-up pre-flop. AA vs KK is pretty rare.
If you have other players in the hand, you want to push them out, so going all in is a good strategy. You don't want to go all in with KK (or even AA for that matter) against 2 or more players - ever - if you can help it.
You also should consider your own table image. Have you been playing a bit loose, making it seem reasonable that another player could push you around with a marginal hand? If so, then pound with KK - you're very likely the overwhelming favorite.
So, unless you have a good analytic reason to believe that your opponent has AA, then go all in. You'll very likely have the best of it. But, if you find that you're just "wondering" if they have AA, then you're likely just playing scared. Playing scared is infinitely worse then making an occasionally bad push against AA.
Remember, poker is played over the long haul. Just because your KK gets snapped off by an unexpected AA doesn't mean it's a bad play. Just like your AA gets snapped by the frisky idiot playing J4os - that's just poker. However, over time, getting your money in with the best of it more often than not will yield positive results. It's a mathematical certainty. Playing overly cautious poker - scared money - will always end badly.
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2TAG = Tight Aggressive (if I'm not mistaken). A super-rock is a player that ONLY plays premium hands, plays maybe 1 of 10 hands and always pushes hard early in a hand with big cards on the flop. As tight and aggressive as a tight-aggressive player can be. At least that's what I meant. These player, IMHO, are easy to read, but frankly, you have to get luck to beat them. Commented Aug 20, 2014 at 15:24
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1@CaptainCodeman, a super-rock TAG is more commonly referred to as nit. These guys more often than not holds AA,KK when they decide to give it all preflop. This can be determined by hud stats.– user1165Commented Jan 20, 2015 at 18:30
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BTW, for what it's worth, one of the last times I went up against AA with KK, the aces flopped an A, I turned a K and rivered a K. Yup Quad Ks beats Aces Full. So you can always hope for that ;-) The odds of that happening is way, way less than 1% (you can calculate it if you like). But it was way, way fun to river that king. We all took pictures because it was so unbelievable. I'll never forget that hand. Commented Jan 29, 2015 at 3:24
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You actually do want KK against as many hands as possible... unless someone has aces or some very specific hands your EV will keep rising as more players enter– AlecCommented Dec 17, 2020 at 17:02
It depends on a lot of things. The first thing to consider regardless of your cards is how well do you manage your bankroll ? If you are playing for all the money you have in your life then the answer is easy here... Even with AA you should fold, and you should leave the table and play some lower stakes.
Even if the math shows a positive expected value you would need to be able to do hundreds of all-ins to reach the long term and show profit. If you play for a one shoot it's pure luck. That said if you're playing for more money that you can afford to loose, don't take the risk because you won't be able to reach long term and beat random luck due to card distribution.
Now suppose the cost of your all-in costs you 50$ and you have a bankroll of 2000$ to play poker then you can considering the math involved and start thinking about long term poker.
The answer here is simple, if you have no history about your opponent, you should go all-in regardless of how many times he raised you during this specific hand. There are still enough players out there that look at their JJ-QQ and AK and think those are the absolute nuts!
If you have history on your opponent, and by that I mean you really need to know that player so well that you know he only reraises with AA. By that I mean you played more than 2000 hands (online) or like 1 week long in a casino with that player and he only reraised like two times during that period. Then I would consider folding my Kings.
As you described the situation here, I jam my chips in the middle !
Yes, definitely go all-in. Most people go all-in pre-flop with hands way worse than KK, e.g., AK, AQ, QQ, JJ. And statistically speaking, KK is only worse than AA, so you should definitely go all-in.
If you don't go all-in preflop and there's no A or K on the flop, you have the same dilemma and no more information.
Against all but the tightest of players, all-in with KK preflop is a +EV move.
If in doubt, call with KK. But there is one situation where there is "no doubt" and you should fold.
I disagree with others about the TAG (tight aggressive player). This person may have AA, but may also have AK or QQ. Against this "range," you are a favorite but will sometimes lose to AA. Weaker players will have wider ranges leading to greater winning frequencies for you.
The person to fear is the TAC, tight and super conservative player. Has played three hours (or more) and never once raised. Showed down only a few hands, including KK, QQ, and AK. In that three hour time period, there is about a 50 percent chance s/he will get an AA hand. This is the one time this person raises. S/he's got AA. Fold.
You are only behind KK+. You have 50% equity on QQ+. Mathematically you should call if their range is QQ+.
If they raise you a lot pre flop no way their range is KK+. If their range is KK+ then they would only be raising 2/221 hands. If you are holding KK then the random chance of AA is 1/221.
I they are raising you loose like 1/4 of the hands then KK is a 3:1 favorite. You should push with 99+ and AKs. Then you are a 2:1 favorite and play more hands.
answered Apr 16, 2017 at 17:02
You have to be really really good to muck KK in NL no matter what stakes or games you're playing and be profitable.
Until such time as you have seen millions of 👐 s go 👋, you'll always be a sucker for mucking here.
With a little more context you can make the case but for such ambiguity the answer is no, do not fold.
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1I don't think the question contemplated folding. I think the question contemplated just calling the push from the aggressive player and not just pushing over the top with KK. I do agree, if you can fold KK, for good reason, then you have mad skill. Commented Aug 19, 2014 at 13:05
You have another option; a humble 3 bet may tell you more, as opposed to snap jamming.
- Consider how aggressive or nitty they are?
- Your position?
- How deep you are stack size wise?
