Do you Play Pocket Queens the Right Way?

Being dealt pocket queens in no-limit Holdem can be a double-edged sword. On one hand you have a hand that is very likely to be the best at the table, conversely many flops can be dangerous for your pair. This article looks at playing pocket queens both before and after the flop. Depth of chip stacks and tendencies (and number) of opponents are just 2 of the critical factors discussed to help you maximize your profit when playing pocket queens.
We will start by looking at why pocket queens prefer as few opponents as possible and why this hand should be raised strongly before the flop. Next we look at the scenario when over-cards appear on the flop. Finally stack depth and opponents are brought into the discussion.

While queens are usually the best hand at the table before the flop, the type of hands that opponents are likely to play make this hand potentially vulnerable after the flop has been dealt. Many players like to play hands which include high cards such as aces or kings which can put you to a difficult decision should one of these cards come on the flop. The ‘standard’ play for queens should thus be to raise strongly to thin the field to just one opponent. If you are in later position you may also have the opportunity to re-raise, which will help to ensure that players yet to act are less likely to enter the pot.

Putting in a strong raise before the flop with queens has an additional advantage. If your opponent does not have over-cards in his hand then he may well fear that you do – meaning it may be possible to win the pot with a continuation bet those times that an ace (for example) does appear on the flop.
Post flop play with queens will largely depend on where you act in the order of betting and what cards come on the flop. Your raise before the flop is unlikely to be flat called by a pair of aces or kings – meaning that if you flop an over-pair you are very likely to have the best hand. However, if an ace flops and an opponent re-raises your continuation bet made from out of position your hand is likely in trouble and a fold may be the prudent move. Against most opponents a bet will have a positive expectation, even those times when over-cards come – this will also help to balance your play, for example to enable you to build a pot on later hands when you hold a monster.

The depth of your chip stack and those of your opponents will have a marked effect on the way you play a pair of queens both before the flop and afterwards. If you re-raise an early position raiser with your queens and then face a large re-raise again you can narrow your opponents holdings considerably. The most common hands you will be facing here are aces, kings or ace-king. Whether you choose to ‘race’ against this range will depend on how many chips are in the middle and your situation (for example in a tournament).
After the flop a check-raise from someone with a deep chip stack when an over-card flops may be less scary than from a shallow stacked opponent. For example an aggressive opponent may be testing your strength while still leaving room to fold. The past actions of the specific opponent will help you decide the likelihood that they are doing this with a hand weaker than the top pair. A shallow stacked opponent will be aware that this same move commits them to the pot and is less likely to be a bluff.

Opponents should be factored into decision making when playing a pair of queens. Inexperienced opponents are far more likely to call raises before the flop with hands such as weak aces or suited kings – these same players are also far less likely to fold top pair hands after the flop. If you are called by multiple opponents then the chances that your queens are beaten when an over-card flops increase exponentially – caution is advised.
To summarize, pocket queens are a powerful holding in no-limit Holdem and should be raised before the flop both for value and to reduce the number of opponents. Being the aggressor in the hand will allow you to represent an ace when one flops – however if you encounter resistance it is often prudent to fold. Depth of chip stacks and the tendencies and number of opponents also need to be taken into account when playing pocket queens.