Tens are actually the start of the medium pairs. Since most players will play any face cards they can easily be beaten if any over-cards appear on the flop. Pocket tens can be played in early position in loose, passive games, but you might want to pass if the game is very aggressive. Since all straights require the use of a ten or a five, holding tens does have an advantage if the flop brings cards that may need a ten to complete a straight draw.

Since you have two of them, it is unlikely that another player will have the other ones. If the flop brings all low cards, making your tens top pair, you should raise if anyone bets before you after the flop. You need to make it expensive for anyone holding overcards to stay in the pot. If the flop contains Aces or faces, you will probably be best to fold your tens if you have no other outs such as a straight draw.

• Poker – Queens And Jacks (0)
• Poker And Kings (0)
• Poker – Ace-queen Or Ace-jack (0)

Queens and Jacks are the "Baby Paint" cards. Obviously Queens are a little stronger than Jacks, but both of these are vulnerable to the single Aces and Kings that many low-limit players will play, if an over-card shows up on the flop. (An overcard is any card higher than the ones you hold.) Normally I will just call with these pairs, unless the game is extremely tight and I think that a lot of players will fold, thus thinning the field. If the game is tight I will even raise under the gun, but if I get re-raised I know I'm in trouble. You will have to pay attention to your opponents. I have probably saved more money by not raising pre-flop with these hands in most low-limit games.

If you see an overcard on the flop you shouldn't hesitate to bet the hand, but be wary if there is a raise. If no card higher than your Queen or Jack appears on the flop you should raise with the top pair if a player ahead of you bets. You want to make it expensive for anyone who might be holding a single Ace or King. If you should happen to flop a set of Queens or Jacks, then you might want to just call if there is a bet and then go for a raise on the turn when the betting limits are higher. The problem with starting with a pair is that you usually need to flop a set or a straight or straight draw to improve your hand, as you are vulnerable if there are overcards on the flop.

• Poker And Tens (0)
• Poker And Kings (0)
• Poker And Aces (0)