Beginners make a very severe mistake when playing limit Texas holdem and this mistake is falling into the trap set by cards that seem as if they could be part of a winning streak. There are traps set by the game of poker that can even get to more experienced players as well. These trap cards are considered often any two big cards that players go along with or an Ace along with another card. Players that play these hands from the first positions or that call on a raise while they are holing such a hand make a big mistake and allow these cards to evolve into trap hands.

Trap hands are generally the hands that stand a high probability to evolve into almost the best one, but never the winning hand. These hands cost players that dont fold them greatly and they never bring winnings. They fulfill their purpose, letting you hit what you had in mind, but then you will see that you didnt evaluate the odds correctly and that there actually is another hand in the game that will win the pot and that hand is not yours. You must always think of what other players can get, not only of your hand, because if you dont you risk greatly and you will definitely lose the pot and all the money invested in that particular hand.

Some examples of the most common trap hands are: Q10, QJ, K10, KJ, KQ, AJ, and A10. Do not mistake them with other similar hands that are indeed raising hands. The hands that are not trap hands and that should be raised are only the following: QQ, KK, AA, AJ suited, AK, KQ suited or not. If you go along and raise against a player when you are holding one of the trap hands you might find yourself in the situation in which you are actually betting against one of the rasing hands stated above, a hand that has most definitely more chances than yours.

Also, in early position if you have one of the trap hands and someone raised, you should fold. Do not call such a raise. If they are raising they might have in their hand a high pair or AK, AQ. That would be a hand you stand no chances against and it is not wise to call upon a raise in this situation.

The trap hands have sometimes a utility in poker but only if you are last or among the last ones and you are the first in the turn. In this situation and similar situations only, the trap hand you are holding evolves into a raising hand if you calculate the pot odds and the fact that position will allow you to pretty much control the game.