Playing Under the Gun

To be "under the gun" in poker means to be the player in first position or first to act. When you're playing from under the gun you should raise or fold almost every single time. The only time I might ever limp in under the gun is with aces or kings but that is only if my table is very loose. I would simply limp hoping someone else would raise so I could re-raise. Most of the time I will still raise under the gun with aces or kings.

When you're under the gun your hand selection should change. The entire table still has to act after you so you aren't going to want to be making raises with a hand like KJ or A10. You should fold those hands under the gun. I would even fold KQ most of the time under the gun at a full table. The chances these hands are the best at a full table are slim. Stick to playing premium hands under the gun.

Playing only premium hands under the gun will gain you more respect when you raise from that position. Then if you happen to be running cold at the table you could try and mix it up by raising with a marginal hand once in a while under the gun because your opponents will put you on a stronger hand than you really have. I would only try to do this against strong players though because they pay attention to position while a weak players do not.