KJo is supposed to be playable even from early position according to most authors on small stakes hold em. I believe there is a lot of risk and not much reward and that the hand must be played very carefully post flop if you do choose to play it.

SSHE recommends limping from any position and calling a raise from the BB. I am still trying to convince myself that hands like this are actually +EV.

Here are a few from a short session tonight.


HAND #1

Party Poker
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $1/$2
9 players


Stack sizes:
Hero: $96.25
UTG+1: $50
MP1: $77.38
MP2: $35
MP3: $40.37
CO: $30.75
Button: $45.50
SB: $49.50
BB: $63

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is UTG with
Hero calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 raises, 6 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (5.5SB, 2 players)
Hero bets, MP1 raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.75BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Final pot: 8.75BB
MP1 shows Kh Ad
Hero doesn't show Kc Js


HAND #2

Party Poker
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $1/$2
10 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $83.50
UTG+1: $46.75
UTG+2: $50.50
MP1: $39.50
MP2: $53.50
MP3: $52.75
CO: $48.75
Button: $53.75
SB: $111.25
Hero: $43.50

Pre-flop: (10 players) Hero is BB with [js] [kc]
6 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: [kh] [ks] (4.5SB, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Turn: [as] (3.25BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

River: (3.25BB, 2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Results:
Final pot: 5.25BB
Hero shows Js Kc
CO doesn't show Ad 7d


HAND #3

Party Poker
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $1/$2
9 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $56.25
UTG+1: $7.75
MP1: $48.75
MP2: $98.25
Hero: $52.75
CO: $80
Button: $48
SB: $17.50
BB: $48

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is MP3 with [ks] [jc]
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, 2 folds, Hero raises, 3 folds, BB calls, UTG+1 3-bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

Flop: [kc] [td] (9.5SB, 3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets, Hero raises, BB calls, UTG+1 calls.

Turn: (7.75BB, 3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets, BB folds, UTG+1 calls.

River: [jh] (9.75BB, 2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets, UTG+1 calls all-in $1.75.
Uncalled bets: 0.13BB returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: 11.5BB
Hero shows Ks Jc
UTG+1 shows Qh Ah


HAND #4

Party Poker
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $1/$2
8 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $65.75
UTG+1: $55.75
MP1: $28
Hero: $47.50
CO: $80.37
Button: $56.25
SB: $51
BB: $30.25

Pre-flop: (8 players) Hero is MP2 with [kc] [js]
3 folds, Hero calls, CO calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB checks.

Flop: [js] [ac] (4SB, 4 players)
SB bets, BB calls, Hero calls, CO folds.

Turn: (3.5BB, 3 players)
SB bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

River: (6.5BB, 3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, 2 folds.
Uncalled bets: 1BB returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: 6.5BB


Having a little trouble with the converter but comment / discuss how you play em.

I don't like playing KJo in early position. I'm pretty sure even SSHE tells you not to, with it's tight recommendations anyway. If I play it, table conditions have to be right and I'll raise in MP with no limpers, or in LP with one limper. I think pretty much the only time when you should be calling preflop with KJo is 1) in the SB in an unraised pot, and 2) in the BB in a raised pot.

I think the converter messed up too, or something. In hand 1 you call on the river, and you won the hand, but it says you don't show it, so it looks like you lost or something.

Anyway, hand 1 you should lead the turn. Think this guy has AQ or Q9? Not likely.

Hand 2 I don't like the slowplay here, but it depends on the read. Ideally this guy is a calling station and will call you down so that you can bet out on the turn.

Hand 3 is fine post-flop, but I'm probably going to throw this away in early MP with a limper already in.

Hand 4, if you're going to play KJo in MP, you damn sure better raise with it, not limp -- especially when you're opening and it's 8-handed. I probably raise on the flop here, too, hoping to buy the button and go for a free card/showdown if necessary.

I like KJ in MP and LP, its a tosser suited or not in EP.

Hand 1: Fold preflop. As played I probably checkraise the turn, its unlikely he checks behind here, I mean what hand can he raise preflop that hasn't hit this board or won't bet the turn.

Hand 2: I'm quite aggressive in blind defense and I'd probably 3 bet here. CO is usually a steal raise, and by putting the pressure back on him he'll have to hit it as opposed to you.

As played I think the flop call is alright, but I like a turn lead here. Think about it, if he has an A he isn't folding, if he has a lower PP he'll check behind and probably fold the river. I want to get another two bets out of him or just take it here. This guy actually knows what he's doing at Party 1/2, I'm quite surprised.

Hand 3: Unlucky, at party I don't like the raise there as you probably aren't getting the button, I may toss it I may call but the isolation raise doesn't really work on Party 1/2. Stars maybe, I've only played 3/6 up at stars though so I dunno. AQ isn't folding anyway if he's short, so it doesn't matter too much.

Hand 4: I'm raising that first in every single time, otherwise fold it. I think limping first in in limit is about as weak as it gets, I'd make an exception if the table was incredibly passive and I was in EP with a low pocket pair, elsewise I'm raising or folding. You have to put pressure on your opponents in limit, and even if you just get blinds here its still good stuff.

The way you played it, I may just toss the flop, or Derk's line of raising and free showdown is alright too. Calling is pretty bad, raise or fold in limit for the most part.
If you had raised preflop this would be a lot easier, if someone cold calls you preflop and then raises that flop he probably has an A and you can fold easily, as it is you really don't know where you stand.

Thanks Derk,

That makes sense.