Coming in with a high pair is always a welcomed hand to most Hold’em players. But, sometimes these types of cards can be deceiving and not mean fiddly squat if not approached properly. In fact, even the pros will tell you that these hands can be difficult to play. Even though pocket jacks is considered one of the top five hands, a player must be very careful in assessing the play.

New players, or beginners to Poker will usually get very excited when they are holding a high pair. They may even be inclined to over-bet and over-play. This is one tell that must be avoided even if you are new. Getting overly excited about hole cards and making a stupid bet will force the other players to fold, or convice the blind players not to raise before the flop. All in all, it’s best to keep your wits about you. Although they will usually win the hand with a high pair, they certainly are liable to limit the amount of money they might have won if they had slow played the hand in the first place.

If you do happen to draw a high pair, take a few seconds to gather your thoughts. This is the perfect opportunity to put your skills to the test. Strategize your next move, understand the cards and more importantly learn to read your opponents. This may seem a bit much to think about in such a short few seconds, but the more you play the quicker it will become. An experienced player will already have learned that every hand at Poker Hold’em is unique and how it plays out is dependent on a number of situations:

•    The player's position at the table
•    The playing style of the opposition players
•    The players position relative to any aggressive players
•    If it is a cash game or a tournament game
•    The state of your chip stack

If a player is short-stacked, drawing a high pair can be treacherous and often dangerous. If the player is caught not playing too many hands, the other players may, or more than likely will catch on. In that case the other players may fold. Believe it or not your position at the table is extremely important – the general rule is that the later in the pre-flop the player has the more time there will be to assess.

Its after the flop that things can take on a different look. The last thing a player wants is a single over card that is higher in value to their pair. Any sort of pair in the commuintiy cards will overall improve their hand but it is impossible to say for sure what the other players are holding. The picture will become a lot clearer on Fourth Street and on the river card. Players who stay in until the end, will know the exact state of their hand and whether they have succeeded in bringing to maximum potential. What they may never know is what one or more of the other players had if they do in fact fold.