Texas Holdem Trap Hands and How to Avoid Them
In Texas Holdem, there are cards known as "trap hands." Trap hand are also called second-best hands. When you are holding a trap hand, you are deluded into thinking you have the best hand in the game when you don't. Because of your faith in the hand, you stay in the game to the end and bet aggressively only to lose in the showdown.
Here is an example of a trap hand situation:
Your starting cards are 5-6d. You are normally tight but because these are suited and sequenced, you decide to play the hand. The board reads: Ac-8-d-Qd-2c-2d. So you now have your flush. You turn aggressive and wind up in a raising war with one of your opponents. At the showdown, you lay down your cards. Your opponent wins with a K-Qd. You both got the flush, but because they played a better starting hand than you, they had the higher kicker.
The trap hand or second-best hand is really the worst hand in poker. Why? Because really bad hands, like 5-3 off-suit are so bad that you can easily recognize them and throw them away. But a trap hand is actually a good-looking hand that can deceive many but the smartest players. For example, an A-7 or a Q-10 r a K-J off-suit, or low suited cards.
As with terminal illnesses, the best defense against traps is prevention. Just avoid playing dubious hands. Be patient and stick only with high suited cards and A-K off-suit and high connectors.
Another important strategy is to know when to let go of a hand. You must be prepared to fold at any time you think your hand has weakened. This is valid for all hands, no matter what they are. Even an A-A can be a trap if you don't quit it when you should.
For example, let's say you begin with a handsome pocket pair, Ac-Ah. The board on the river reads 8s-9s-Ad-10c-Js. One or more players may have a straight or flush now. No matter how cute your ace pair is, it can't beat a straight or flush. Be prepared to fold when someone raises to you then, or if two players get into a raising war by themselves.
Know when to give up a hand. It wall save you thousands of dollars over your long career as a poker player. And by choosing only a few, quality hands, you avoid the complications and tragedies that can result from playing dubious hands.