Playing pocket kings is always easy when you are dealing with a 4 bet or all in shove pre flop. In this situation I tend to look at stack size and think about how my opponent has been playing up until this point. Meaning is he tilted or does he actually have the goods.
I have a situation where I’m going to break down from a $500 cash game where I got a little sneaky with KK on an all in jam pre flop. Let’s break it down.
Pre Flop
Okay, the hand opened with player 6 min raising to $10 following with player 4 raising it up to $35 on Ignition Poker. When it came back over to me instead of four betting I decided to slow play my kings and just make the call. Fortunately, what happened next was pretty insane since player 6 just came over the top. The question is does he really have aces here, or is he just stacking off with a hand like AK or another pair like QQ.
Flop & Turn
It took me less than 10 seconds to make this call, and when I saw player 6 turn over 1010, I immediately knew he was just trying to take down this hand pre flop but clearly over played it. The flop was really good for us with no real draws for player 6. The turn card binked an ace and I felt fortunate he did not have a hand like AK or AQ in this spot. Now all we need to do is dodge a bad river card.
River
Well guys this is exactly what I’m talking about. We scooped a nice pot here for $1033 by slow playing pocket kings pre flop and letting our opponent make a bad decision. And even though I don’t always slow play pocket kings, but when you have a general sense of how the people are playing at your table you can make the decision when the time comes. I have no real complaints about how this hand played out since it was a nice double up for me.
Tips for Playing Pocket Kings
I almost always play kings aggressively but in this hand I new the opponents I was up against. I also figured that we were going to go 3 ways to the flop so it’s not like there would have been 4 or 5 callers to see this flop. That influenced my slow play as well. But in general, 4 betting kings would have been the standard play in this hand.
You also must think if someone comes over the top of you when you have pocket kings you are usually up against another pair like QQ JJ or even an AK at times. Even though you are blocking AK with KK it still happens, and sometimes the ace hits the board and you get stacked. But if you ran KK ten times against any of the hands, I mentioned you are going to be ahead always. The only situation where things go against you is when you run into pocket aces. It happens but you still always must stay aggressive with kings if you plan on winning or showing a positive ROI long term.
Common Mistakes with Pocket Kings
Pocket kings are one of the strongest starting hands in poker, but many players still lose money with them because of a few common mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes is playing them too passively before the flop. Some players just call instead of raising, which gives weaker hands a chance to see the flop cheaply and outdraw them. Kings should almost always be played aggressively to build the pot and thin the field. This is especially true as you move up in stakes and play against better opponents.
Another mistake is overplaying them after an ace appears on the flop. While kings are still a strong hand, when an ace hits the board, it significantly reduces their value. People ignore this and continue betting heavily, even when their opponent is clearly showing strength. This can lead to unnecessary losses.
Slow playing is also a frequent problem. Trying to trap opponents can backfire, especially on coordinated boards where draws are possible. Giving free cards increases the risk of being outdrawn. If you let too many people, see a flop it also reduces the equity of your pocket pair significantly.
Finally, some players make the mistake of folding kings too easily before the flop out of fear of aces. While running into pocket aces does happen, it’s relatively rare, and folding kings preflop in most situations is overly cautious and unprofitable in the long run.
Final Thoughts
When you play pocket kings you almost always want to be aggressive with them. I would say 9 out of 10 times it’s always going to be aggressive. Every once in awhile if you want to deviate and get sneaky with it, I am all for it. Just be aware, going multi way with a lot of players with a big pair like this really reduces equity of it holding post flop.
I do also think a big pocket pair can be a situational decision based on how people are playing at your table in any given session. For example, if everyone is playing hyper aggressive then slow playing might work out better at times. But if everyone is playing super passive ABC style then it’s still best to just be aggressive. Fortunately, I won a big hand here so I think I will pat myself on the back for the win. You can also grab yourself a nice little bonus to start playing here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you ever fold pocket kings preflop?
In most cases, no. Pocket kings are the second-best starting hand in Texas Hold’em and are strong enough to get all your chips in before the flop. The only time folding might be considered is against an extremely tight player who is clearly representing aces, but this is rare and often still too cautious.
How often do pocket kings lose to aces?
It happens occasionally, but not often. The chances of another player having pocket aces when you hold kings are low. Over the long run, you will still make more money by playing kings aggressively rather than worrying about running into aces.
Is KK better than AK?
Yes, pocket kings are a favorite against Ace-King. While AK has overcards, it still needs to improve to win. Kings are ahead preflop and should be played confidently in this matchup. Even though an ace will crack kings at times, the odds highly favor KK holding up on the flop, turn, and river more than not.
How should you play KK on an ace-high flop?
You need to be more cautious. An ace on the board increases the chance your opponent has a stronger hand. It’s often best to control the pot, avoid over committing, and pay attention to your opponent’s betting patterns.
Should you slow play pocket kings?
Generally, no. Playing kings aggressively is usually the better approach. Slow playing can allow weaker hands to catch up and beat you, especially on coordinated boards. However, like the hand I broke down I had a general sense for the people at my table and made a gut call by slow playing KK. My instincts were right in this spot and that’s what allowed me to take down a massive $1k pot.
Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.