What are some examples of hands that are decent but may not have a chance at a big payout?

[Mike_25]

There are several hands which may seem to have potential but end up giving you mediocre returns at best. For instance, a pocket pair of 9s or 10s may not improve sufficiently on the flop to defeat higher pairs or big draws. Middle valued suited connectors like 78s or 67s face too much competition if an opposing hand flops well. Such hands can be decent to call a flop bet but rarely deliver a significant pot, so I advise playing cautiously with them and being prepared to fold if others bet aggressively. Only hands with few outs against competitors tend to pay off modestly in the long run.

 

[CR7]

I agree with your analysis. Another example of a hand that can be decent but may not have a chance at a big payout is Ace-Queen offsuit. While it's a strong starting hand, it can be difficult to play out of position, and it often runs into stronger hands when a Queen or Ace flops. It's also vulnerable to overcards on the turn or river.

Similarly, King-Jack offsuit can be a tricky hand to play. While it has potential to make top pair or a strong draw, it often faces competition from stronger hands and can be dominated by hands like Ace-King or King-Queen. Additionally, if the flop comes with low cards, it can be difficult to continue with the hand.

Overall, it's important to remember that while some hands may seem strong, they may not have a chance at a big payout if they don't improve on the flop. It's important to play these hands cautiously and be prepared to fold if necessary, especially if facing aggressive betting.

 

[mosesdera]

Hands like Ace-Queen are another good example mentioned. On paper it looks strong, but in reality it's at the mercy of what hits the board. Unless you hit your ace or queen, it's an underdog against many holdings. Some discretion is needed, because overplaying marginal starters is a sure way to let profits leak away.