Hands that look like good starting Texas Hold’em hands, but instead have a tendency to become second-best hands are known as trap hands. Having too much faith in hands such as AT, AJ, KQ, KJ, KT, QJ, and QT is an error often committed by beginners and even intermediate players. It is important to realize that these are weak starting hands and that opponents are likely to hold better hands. Flopping to a trap hand can cost you a lot of money.

However, under the right circumstances trap hands can be played. If you are in late position and you are the first player in, a trap hand indeed becomes a raising hand.