How to play pocket kings (KK) in Hold'em
Pocket kings (KK) are the second-best starting hand in Hold’em. Only pocket aces beat them before the flop, and you’ll rarely face A-A. Play kings aggressively preflop: raise, 3-bet and usually go all-in with 100 big blinds or less. After the flop, be more careful when an ace appears.
How strong are kings?
Section titled “How strong are kings?”| KK against | KK wins about |
|---|---|
| A random hand | 82% |
| Q-Q | 82% |
| A-K offsuit | 70% |
| A-A | 18% |
The chance an opponent holds A-A when you have K-K is small: about 0.5% per opponent (roughly 4% at a full nine-handed table).
Preflop
Section titled “Preflop”- Raise if nobody has raised; 3-bet if someone has. See 3-bet.
- Against a 4-bet, usually 5-bet all-in or call. At low stakes, folding K-K preflop with 100 big blinds is almost always a mistake.
- Be careful only against very tight players who 5-bet all-in after a lot of action: their range may be mostly A-A.
After the flop
Section titled “After the flop”- No ace on the flop: bet for value on most boards. See value betting.
- An ace on the flop: about 23% of the time at least one ace appears on the flop. Many opponents who called your raise have an ace. Slow down, check more, and avoid building a huge pot unless they show weakness.
- Wet boards like J♥ 10♥ 9♣: bet to protect, but respect big raises.
Common mistakes
Section titled “Common mistakes”- Folding preflop out of fear of aces.
- Slow playing and letting many players see a cheap flop. See slow play.
- Never folding after an ace hits and your opponent bets big on every street.
See also pocket aces and starting hands.
How strong are pocket kings?
Section titled “How strong are pocket kings?”The second-best starting hand; only pocket aces are stronger before the flop.
Should you fold pocket kings preflop?
Section titled “Should you fold pocket kings preflop?”Almost never at low stakes with 100 big blinds or less.
How often does an ace come on the flop with KK?
Section titled “How often does an ace come on the flop with KK?”About 23% of the time.
How often do kings beat aces all-in preflop?
Section titled “How often do kings beat aces all-in preflop?”About 18% of the time.