Cowboys - AKA 'KK'

Cowboys is the Hold'em starting hand K-K and is the second best starting behind A-A (otherwise known as bullets or american airlines). It's one that you'll see dealt every 56 hands - roughly equating to a 1.8% chance of being dealt..

As good a pre flop hand as it is, it's also one that can get players into trouble! In a similar way to players over-playing aces, it's a hand that players struggle to get away from when the flop is down. The sad truth about playing Kings, is that it is beaten by any ace with any kicker, even A-2. In this situation when up against a player with an Ace, you would move from 70% (or so) favorite to roughly an 8% dog, needing one of two remaining kings left in the pack.

There are a number of ways you can play cowboys. If you decide to trap, you should not complain when they get overturned from time to time. In fact, they will get overturned 3 times in every 10 times you play them. When trapping, you are hoping for a flop that someone hits top pair as this will increase the amount of money you take off your opponent. That said, slow playing kings increases the number of players who enter the pot that could hit their hand, thus reducing the likelihood of you winning the hand. That is the risk you take.

It is advisable to play Kings with a raise (.i.e. don't slow play). Just be cautious if an over card hits the board. Remember that as strong a hand as it is pre flop, it is only a pair (see poker hand rankings).