Poker Strategy: Why Play Marginal Hands?

The expected value (EV) of raising with certain hands in poker can vary significantly. For instance, the EV of raising with AA is 9.31 big blinds, while raising with KK yields 5.04 big blinds. Similarly, the EV of raising with QQ is 2.06 big blinds, and raising with AKs brings in 1.53 big blinds.

On the other hand, raising with marginal hands like A3s brings in only 1/50 of a big blind, T9s brings in 1/100, and raising with QJo results in zero EV, with the solver folding this hand half the time. The top three hands—AA, KK, and QQ—account for more than 70% of the total EV. Adding JJ, AK, and AQ to these hands increases the EV to 93%. Marginal hands, such as connectors and small pocket pairs, generally do not bring in much money.

Playing only premium hands can make you appear too tight, reducing the EV of your strong hands. Including near-zero EV hands in your range makes you appear looser, which is beneficial. The remaining 7% of EV from marginal hands is significant in poker, where small edges matter. Against strong players, it is better to play tighter and avoid unnecessary confrontations. Experimentation with sizing can be beneficial, such as opening with a larger raise size.