Danger is all around you at the poker table.

The trick to becoming a successful poker player is learning how to avoid these dangerous traps, while striking fear into your opponents by playing some tricky hands.

Dangerous hands to play

The worst type of hand you can be dealt when playing Texas Hold'em is one that seems to be too good to fold, but isn't good enough to raise with. Sure, it's easy to know that you should raise with pocket aces and fold a 7-2 offsuit, but hands like KJ offsuit often can cause you real problems.While it's obvious that high cards are better than low cards, in most No Limit Hold'em situations, the little cards often have a better risk/reward ratio.

The potential problem with trouble hands like KJ, AJ, QJ or even KQ is that when you flop a pair with them, you'll often have kicker trouble. Too often, when you call a raise with a hand like KQ you'll be up against AK, or maybe even AA or KK.

If you're in there with KQ and the flop comes Q-6-2, you'll have what appears to be a really strong hand. The problem, though, is that if someone decides to play against you after the flop, there is a good chance you're going to get beat.

The bottom line is clear: If you were to play a big pot on that flop, for all of your money, chances are that you are walking into a set (trip 2's, 6's, or Q's), an AQ, a pair of kings, or a pair of aces.

Generally speaking, these trouble hands often win small pots when no one else hits the flop, and lose monster pots when they run into a better hand. Why? Because it's really difficult to fold such a seemingly strong hand after a flop like that.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not recommending that you never play a hand like KQ or AJ, but always remember, that when you do, you need to proceed cautiously. Don't get married to your top pair if a quality opponent is pushing the betting hard.

Dangerous hands to own

Now, compare the previous examples to playing a hand like a pocket pair of fours. This hand is much easier to work with. Either you hit the flop big, by landing three of a kind, or you have a hand with very little value.

Let's look at another example. You call a raise with 4-4 from late position, from a player who you suspect has a strong hand, maybe even AA. You aren't calling because you think your little pair is the best hand, but you are doing so because of the potential to win a big pot.

Let's say the flop now comes Js-4c-2d. Or, in other words: Gin, baby!

If your opponent did in fact start with a hand like AA, KK, or QQ, chances are you'll be able to win his whole stack if you bet it right. Had the flop come something like J-9-8, then you can safely fold your pair of fours without risking another chip. As you can see, it's a minor risk in relation to the big payday a small pair might offer you.

There is one last group of hands that you might want to add to your repertoire — playing small suited connectors like 6-7. These hands can be a little trickier than small pairs, but you'll be able to connect with them more often. The same principal holds true with these little cards as with the little pairs. Get to the flop cheaply if you can and get out if you don't improve.

Let's look at one final example. You call a raise with 6-7 of hearts and the flop comes 6-6-2. If your opponent has a big overpair, you might be able to win all of his chips, because he may not believe that you'd call a raise with a six in your hand.

The key difference between dangerous hands to play and dangerous hands to own is that it's easy to get away from the latter, but it's often very difficult to avoid getting trapped with a risky hand like top pair.

Be the dangerous player — not the player in danger.
By Daniel Negreanu