[jorpot]

I'm usually torn between what to do with high pockets (A's, K's, Q's) in early position. I like show that I have somewhat of a hand, I just don't know how hard to push. Sometimes I even just call. I understand that it's better to win a small pot than lose a big one, but I also want to get paid off with these hands. I was just wondering what you guys do in the same situation. Any advice welcome.

[chris]

with big pairs like AA or KK you have to push, and push hard, you dont want someone outdrawing you. you wanna get what you can and take the pot down. with AA and KK i raise preflop if im early, or limp and hope for a raise to get all my money in the pot. if it does make it to the flop im gonna bet big or go all in 90% of the time. i wanna take that pot down right there. the times when i wont make a big bet is when the flop has paired, even if the flop comes 22x, ill throw out a bet but play it very slow.once i ran into someone who called my preflop raise with A2soooooooooted when i had KK and flopped trips, i lost alot of chips on that hand. also when theres 3 to a flush or 3 to a strait i slowdown unless i feel like my hand is still in the lead. if i hit a set i never slowplay it i fire out a large bet because i wanna catch someone with a smaller set or 2 pair and bust them, the only time i slowplay with aces or kings is when i flop quads or the highest full house, say i have aces and the flop is A44 ill probly slowplay that, and then just try to sell my hand for whatever i can get.

with queens i play them a little slower im still gonna make a strong raise preflop, or sometimes go for a limp-reraise, depends on the table. but i really dont like getting alot of money in here preflop because of the chance of an overcard coming on the flop. i like to see flops with this hand and then reevaluate my hand after i see the flop. if the flop is rags im pushin hard and if someone gets lucky enough to flop a small 2 pair or small set then theyre gonna win alot of chips from me.

[DeepBlue]

Not too hard - maybe look at reasonably sized bets, but don't commit your entire stack, don't go all in and so forth, not early on anyway.

I prefer the Kings and Aces, I find that Queens and Jacks can be a little low, low out to a pair of Kings and so forth. Later on in the game, feel free to push harder as you acn afford more marginal hands, but early on in the game keep it tight but don't be afraid to play.