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Which cards are trap hands?

In Doyle Brunson’s book, Super/System, he mentions that he never plays a starting hand of a Q-A regardless of suit. Thus this hand has become known as a Doyle Brunson. Whether or not you are in agreement, there are definitely hands to be avoided when playing No-Limit Texas Hold ‘em. Hands that would be very playable in a limit game may trap you into a major money loss in the exciting no-limit.

A key to consider in the play of your hands is based on their implied odds. What are the chances of them standing up to a true test if I continue to bet on them? This is the reason Brunson never plays the Q-A, because there is a good chance that even if you were to hit a high pair from the flop, you’ll still be beat by a better combination. Any three of a kind would beat your two pair even if they are Q-Q-A-A. With high cards, it’s best to try and take the pot early given the flop. At that point, you’ll realize whether you’re in business, or hoping for a miracle. In regards to hoping for miracles, let them slide on the poker table, and choose to hope for them in other aspects of life. Chasing anything on the table usually leads to fewer poker chips in your stack.

A great example found at absolutepoker.com lists the pocket of a 7-6 and the flop coming 4-5-J. If you bet here, there is a good chance that you can take the pot early because your opponents will have to presume that you are playing the Jack.However, you are drawing to the nut straight, and if the turn and river come 8-J and a competitor holds A-J, then there should be a lucrative pot that will come your way.Again, notice the danger of the high hand that your competitor now holds.With that A as the kicker,he or she feels like they are in pretty good position, but in reality, you connected at lower value and took the pot.

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Consider trap hands to be any of the high values that are unconnected: A-Q-K-J, and Q-T. They most definitely can be played at the right time, but

poker table position comes into play, and the play of your competitors does as well. When raising and calling, you don’t want to find yourself calling a raise or re-raise when the chances are your competitor is already hiding a pair. But being in the final position you can raise with your trap hand, and find yourself dictating the play pre-flop with a chance to snag the blinds. If someone continues to press, either they’ve got something and for some reason don’t want to build on it, or they are trying to confuse you and keep you on your toes. Before you get too deep, see what they have and try to get a good read for future play.