I just wanted to know what the real strength and potential for these hands are. I know that if they are suited it can put you on a draw for the 2nd to nut or the nut flush. But other than that what am i looking to flop here, top pair-2 pair-straight. If i flop top pair I can be dominated by AJ AQ or AK and I see two pair about as often as a set.

Should I be making a pre-flop raise simply because I have 2 painted cards. And If I'm bet into pre-flop is it an easy lay down? It just seems like I lose more hands with KQ and KJ than I win. Thanks guys.

-Andrew

They are both generally weak hands. Especially if you cant fold top pair which most people cant do.

They can still be played slightly profitably but they will never be huge money makers. In other words if you folded them every time you wouldnt be losing much.

Save those hands for late position with an unraised pot. You can throw in a raise now and then if your on the button it is folded to you and the blinds are tight players.

Good point

With position, I'll play them in an unraised pot every time. With no raise, you generally won't be in kicker problems when you hit TP, and you will more often than not be able to take down the pot with a flop bet. Even when you are called, you should be ahead most of the time, and when you get raised you can fold and not worry about it.

Thats what I meant by "being able to fold top pair"

They go up in value in short handed cash games and become 50/50 preflop raises for me based on position table texture and current opponents. They go back down in value against tight passive players, back up against yahoos, the more solid my read is the stronger they grow. Full games the later the position the more value I find in limping or open raising, early I muck them. Tournament play when it is tighter with an ante, they are open raising hands, facing a raise an easy muck, or against an overly aggressive table just a limp (the kind of table with more than one person that will move in with 66 in a raised pot but might make a reasonable raise or limp when aggression hasn't been shown).

Calling raises with either of these is tough, you have to have a serious line on your opponents play and hammer and dodge accordingly. It is so tough I generally avoid putting myself thru the agony of playing them in a raised pot with out good reason.

I have had a long running debate with a friend of mine about which hand I'd rather play KQ or J/10 suited. Personally I had KQ and KJ. To easy to be dominated, plus when you flop a straight it is usually going to cost you a lot to draw at the str8 since so many people fall in love with paint cards. I'd gladly take middle suited connectors or any pocket pair over either of these hands.