In poker, as in life, Ladies, may be the most complex to assess, and therefore make it hard for us to evaluate how to act with them.They are not as high as Kings or Aces, to always be played with confidence, and they are not so low that you would just give them away as easily if we encountered solid opposition.

For example, let’s look at a typical situation that would put us at a crossroads preflop: we are on the button , in an intermediate stage in a regular tournament, where all players are arguably good, and have a stack that goes over 330bbs. A solid rival may standard raise three times the big blind from mid position, and the one who’s in cutoff (also a solid rival) raises to 10 big blinds.

All options have pros and cons. If we honestly believe there is a real chance that one of them is holding K-K or A-A, we may decide to fold. We still have a considerable stack, so we are not against the ropes, and to fall in love with our Ladies could really cost us and even take us down (just as in real life).

If we believe, however, that this time the openraiser opened with a wider gamut of higher hands and that the cutoff may be going up again with a considerable range like 9-9+ and A-J+, in order  to leverage his position, it may be a good time to re raise  or  go all-in looking to get those 14.5bbs that represent 50% of our stack, and run the risk of getting matched with better hands. At a certain point in the tournament, we will have to risk our place, and Q-Q is the third best hand out of 1326 possible hands. What defines the situation, in this case, is whether we did a good or a bad reading of the table.

Taking this same scenario, if instead of having Q-Q we were holding Jacks, Tens or A-K, I think we shlould consider folding. Also, depending of our read, we may play with the possibility of matching the bet or raising again, but it is much harder to hand back the Ladies to the  dealer than these other hands.

The Ladies are leveled with the potency  A-K. It is usually said that Aces and Kings are the premium pairs and then come, Q-Q y A-K. However, and in spite of everything, I prefer Ladies myself (just as in real life).They are not just slightly superior in a match up: 54%-46%, but, also, mainly when we consider pitting them against the rest of the initial hands, and most of all at key moments.

Let’s consider this example. In the previously stated situation, let’s imagine we decide to go all-in holding Q-Q. It is certain that others will pay with A-A y K-K and, maybe also, Q-Q. In the case of the player who is cutoff, that has already compromised a good part of his stack, he might even be willing to match holding J-J, 10-10 o A-K.

If the player I mentioned last, pays, then there would be two hands (K-K y A-A) which dominate us completely, and other two that we can dominate (J-J y 10-10) and other two hands that will leave us even (A-K y Q-Q).

On the other hand, if we were holding A-K, then we probably wouldn’t have the possibility to win, because against A-A we will find ourselves 7/93 against us, versus K-K, 30/70, versus Q-Q, J-J or 10-10, 43/56 and versus A K, the same.

It is very strange that some adversaries may decide to pay with A-Q o A-J or lower. Two solid players will know that it is almost impossible that we would endanger our stay with 30bbs in a 4-bet all-in with less than a  high pair or A-K at the worst case scenario.

Let’s look at another situation: what happens when we have to play Q-Q and we are the first ones to act?

In rounds where the actions comes from the fold or with some limpers, then the best thing to do would be to try to go higher, attempting to be heads-up at the flop.

We know it’s difficult to connect a third Lady, therefore, ideally we should have them «fly low». If this were to happen, then surely, we will place a continuation bet. If the flop is dry (let’s say J-2-6 rainbow) and we are matched, then we will have to be careful and assess our rival and ask ourselves: Is he only able to match me with a top pair and check again at the turn? Do we consider that a Jack would have done a check-raise and actually he might just be slowplaying with a set?

If the turn  is another low card and he checks once more, then we must evaluate whether to continue betting or head to the fifth street to see how he reacts.

If the flop showed  a lot of possible projects (let’s imagine a dangerous combination like, 8 9 -Js-), one more the right thing to do would be to bet. If he matches us and at the turn comes up with a terrible card like K or Q which would give us a set (but flush for two letters in suit and a straight for any given 10) then, we must be vry cautious and in case he passed. the best advice would be to check as well and see what the river gives us, even if we are giving a card away for free. I’ll take prudence over commitment any day.

In both cases, if the river is not favorable for us, and our opponent straight places a bet, then we are probably losing against his whole range. He paid with something and got all the way to the river.

If the turn was Q and by means of the  fifth card we get a full house, then we will have an optimal chance  to take a good amount of chips for ourselves (unless, of course, he is holding four of a kind or a straight flush, while we make it out of the room happily thinking of the poker Gods that be and the rival’s family).

The third hipothesis states that the river may show a King or an Ace. If we are heads-up, whether we have a position or not, the advisable thing to do, would be to do a measured c-bet. If we win right there, then we’ll be happy, and if the raise us again, then we will fold,  convinced that we got a higher game (although it may not work that way).

If the flop came with an  Ace and we check with a position, and the turn shows a low card and the rival bets, we won’t know where we are standing. He may hold the Ace or he may think (correctly) that we are not holding it, and try to take the pot with any given hand. In this scenario, we are going to find ourselves at a crucial crossroads. As Hamlet would put it: “To hold a card or not to hold? That is the question”.

Then we will have complications with a hand that we could have played easily. We will also be dazzled by that  Ace and of course, “we never see ir when we raise with A-K”. We stop thinking about other possible combinations that the other guy may have and about the fact that they are winning. If we decide to match the turn and the river, we will surely be investing more than we should and even more doubtful than if we had bet at the flop.

Let’s not make an easy thing, complicated. Poker is already difficult all on its own to make it even harder, and especially when it is unnecessary to make it so.

Conclussions:
1)If we are the  first ones to go higher, we will try to play Q-Q heads-up.
2)If we are up against re-raises, let’s be meticulous in analyzing the rivals who suggest them and the possible ranges we could be dealing with.
3)If the flop comes up with high cards, then it’s preferrable to bet right there to know where you stand. We’ll take the pot more times than we think, or we’ll know that we have to abandon without so much investment.
4)Let’s be careful, but if it is worth it, do not hesitate to risk a tournament with Q-Q, especially at final instances. Those who fold a great hand, frequently end up risking it with a lower one.

By José “el Profe” Litvak 

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