When it comes to playing poker, there’s nothing quite as exciting as the moment when you see your cards and realize that you have a made hand. That feeling of anticipation is one of the best parts of poker games But what do you do if you end up with a marginally made hand?ย
There are typically more mediocre (or simply bad) hands than genuinely good ones when you play poker. However, if you wait for only the best hands and fold everything, you risk waiting a long time.
There are strategies you can use to make the most out of your marginal hands, particularly during the post-flop.
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Marginal Hands
A marginal hand is neither strong nor weak in poker. That is, after the communal cards are dealt, there is a slim probability that it will be a winning hand.
Marginal hands typically feature lower numbers, alternative suits, or one-card gaps (two cards two ranks apart) between them. Here are some common marginal hands and how to play them:
Suited Connectors
This hand refers to numerically adjacent cards of the same suit, like 10 of Hearts and the Jack of Hearts.
Suited connectors are among the best beginning poker hands for marginals. This is so because there is a decent likelihood that the community will show a flush, straight, or pair.
Before the river, you can push a couple of your rivals to fold if you open raise with suited connectors.
Small Pairs
Any pair under seven is considered a small pair and has a minimal chance of winning by pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind, or four-of-a-kind, but anyone else holding a comparable hand with seven or more cards wins.
Early in the game, play the hand rather than fold them to see how the other players at the poker table play. When more cards enter the community, everything will become much more apparent.
Unsuited Connectors
Connectors that are not of the same suit include the 10 of Hearts and the Jack of Clubs, which are adjacent cards.
Unlike suited connectors, no flush is possible, but straights and pairs are. Due to their proximity, a straight can proceed in any direction, somewhat increasing the likelihood that it will occur.
If the flop exposes at least two cards that make a straight, high unsuited connector like Ace/King or King/Queen might be tempting. After such a flop, call or raise as your poker strategy. You bet on the river if the turn doesn’t support a straight.
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Playing Post-Flop
You must know your opponent’s post-flop plans to play marginal-made hands. You should be more willing to call down on all betting rounds when you are up against competent, strong opponents capable of having a respectable number of bluffs in their range. Tighter opponents might not have any bluffs in their range on all betting rounds or just some of them, which means you should fold more frequently to these players since it is doubtful they are bluffing.
When Engaged With Tight Ranges
The two main factors that influence whether an opponent maintains a tight range are their general tightness or their position requires them to do so.
Raising Under the Gun (UTG) in a live or online poker tournament implies that the person has a strong hand. By the river, the UTG player has nearly no bluffs left in their range when the board reads A-K-7-4-5 after the UTG player raised pre-flop. Even if you face UTG with an ace (such as A-8) in this situation, fold if they bet all three streets.
With Wide Ranges
Some of your poker opponents will have a wide range because they frequently use an aggressive, loose approach or because their position requires them to have a wide range.
Consider that you are up against a player who raised from the button before the flop. The flop is J-5-3-8-A, the turn is checked, and the river is bet. With any pair, even 3-2, you have a straightforward hero call on the river. Even though your opponent might hold an ace, you can still beat any pair of their unpaired high card hands in their range.
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Check It Down
Marginal hands have a respectable amount of equity but don’t have enough value to handle large pots. Because marginal hands are frequently dominated and difficult to develop on later streets, you want to avoid playing for stacks with them.
Instead, try to keep the pot small and check it down. You want to reach showdown as quickly and cheaply as possible. You can place small bets to force folds and push opponents off draws, like when playing against a nit.
In Multi-way Pots
The ranges players bet with become more polarized as a pot becomes increasingly multi-way. These ranges frequently have few draws, therefore, when they bet, they are probably doing so with strong-made hands or premium hands.
You are motivated to fold marginal hands if your opponents are more likely to bet with premium hands or strong marginal hands. This is especially true if you are up against a bet and a call in a multi-way pot.
Consider a J-8-7 flop with a hand like J-6 or A-8. In this situation, you have an easy fold if the pre-flop aggressive bettor bets and another opponent calls. Although it may seem unnecessarily tight, this is the best action. You should call when the pot odds are exceedingly advantageous or hold a pair with the possibility for a straight.
Conclusion
Marginal hands in poker have their turn to win and lose. You can fold these cards when playing with them has no odd on your part, or your opponents have the upper hand. There are times when you can win the pot. When you get that chance, bet your hands.