Re-reading HEPFAP today I came across a very interesting concept.

In a tough, or at least aggressive, game a flopped pair of aces or kings from the blinds, with a weak kicker, is much stronger than tens jacks or queens. For instance:

T5 from the BB on a T23 flop in a tough game

vs.

K5 from the BB on a K27 flop in a tough game.

The K5 is significantly stronger, not just because of the likelihood that kings will stay top pair (obvious) but because in a tough or aggressive game most players will raise their good aces and kings (AK, AQ, KQ) and fold their bad ones, while they are much more likely to have limped in with tens jacks and queens (T9, TJ, QT, QJ).

Thoughts?

I don't play much SH, mostly Full Ring.

I was just re reading sections of HEPFAP over the last week and I picked up a few concepts including the one you mention. Unfortunately for me I typically over correct when trying to excercise a new concept and it ends up costing me money. I play 2/4 3/6 and 5/10 and I would say most of the concepts in HEPFAP do not fit well in a typical 2/4 or 3/6 game as the pre flop play always features a few "any A will do" players which makes reading hands a bit more challenging. Additionally concepts like the check raise steal from early position are not likely to work often as many players call down with TPTK no matter how the board develops.

I find the concepts that work best at the lower limits i.e. 5/10 and below are the semi bluffing and raising with strong draws to create large pots when you have a mediocre hand with a monster draw. Not so much at 5/10 but definately at 2/4.

BK