Trap Hands in Texas Holdem

If you are just starting out in online Texas Holdem it is important that you become familiar with the trap hands. These have gotten a lot of players in trouble, and if you are not careful can end up costing you a lot of money. The earlier and more you know about them, the better.

Trap hands in Texas Holdem Poker games are those combinations that, to the untrained eye, looks formidable, but when played out can get you in a precarious situation. The trap hands include the Ace paired with a Ten or Jack, a King paired with a Queen or Jack unsuited and Queens paired with Tens or Jacks.

The problem will arise when players use one of these Texas Holdem trap hands to raise pre flop. Because they consist of an Ace and often a face card, the impression that they get is that it is strong. But it is not.

The proper hands to raise with pre flop are KK, AK and AA. The fact that you do not have these hands and have to raise with the others only increases the possibility that someone has the high hand.

If you get re raised, then you will find yourself trapped. You either fold, or accept the raise and go to the flop. With a hand like QT or KJ, you will be in a vulnerable position in Texas Holdem, because even if you do improve, chances are high that the other players, who had the superior hand will get even stronger.

On the flop, Texas Holdem trap hands also pose trouble. If you call with your QT in middle position and you get raised, what do you do? In most isntaces you have no choice but to fold.

However, in later Texas Holdem positions, these trap hands can be quite strong. If you are holding an AJ on the button and no one has raised, then you are in prime position to steal the blinds.

The key to Texas Holdem trap hands is knowing when and when not to play them. You should understand early on that having an Ace paired with a face does not automatically translate into a monster hand. You have to consider exactly what you are holding, and your positron.

Doing so will help ensure that you stay in the hand and give you a shot at winning that pot in Texas Holdem.