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Draw hands vs. premium hands

Draw hands are so much fun, aren’t they? You have so many options and so many fears rolled into one little pair of cards. But how valuable are these through the course of a Texas Hold ‘Em hand compared to a higher value hand that’s already made? What’s the best way to play these while walking that line between scaring off lower value made hands or overextending yourself vs. better hands that at the early stages have a higher percentage of victory?

First, to clarify. By draw hands, I’m talking about those hands that aren’t currently worth much, but have huge potential to cash in on the flop. A4, A7, KJ, QJ, suited or runner cards, you get the idea. The potential hands.

There are many players that prefer to sit with these hands pre-flop rather than a premium hand, because they’re more comfortable with the betting position and believe the ceiling is higher for the flop, turn and river. The betting is more of a personal preference, but the idea that your hand will have a better probability of improving because it hasn’t been “made” yet fails to take into account the gap you’re already experiencing vs. the value of a strong hand. It’s like saying you’re rathing be able to accelerate from 20 mph to 60 mph than start off at 50. What you’re failing to realize is that even if the car going 50 won’t accelerate by the same 40 mph from start to finish, it’ll still accelerate (usually) and finish ahead of the first car.

The bottom line is that premium hands are just more profitable. But like any hands, you have to know when to protect them and play safely, when to check raise them, and when to dump them. Understanding situations and putting your opponents on ranges still needs to blend with the straight value of your hand. Don’t forget the basics of poker strategy.

Some people overprotect these premium hands, and thus feel more open and comfortable when playing the draw hand. If you’re successful, this could yield a higher return at the end, but it’s only a result of individual factors based off an incorrect approach to the premium hand. And when it comes down to it, why would you really overprotect a premium hand? If you play scared, other players will see through it right away, and you’ll actually scare them off more quickly on future hands that you do wager. If another player folds to your raise, they didn’t have a hand to stay in with anyway, and by protecting your premium hand, you’re just giving that draw hand a chance to speed past you on the flop.