Starting Hand Selections

Starting Hand Selection

When trying to achieve a goal, I have an issue with research. I like hit upon Amazon or some other book store and buy the top of the line books of that niche. When I started playing poker, I did the same thing and bought a few books by the famous authors (Doyle Brunson in particular). Although they are the greats poker is a game played on personality I think, so some of the books I dove into were a little dis-serving. It took me years and money (haha) before I realized that the games that I was taking part in were not even close to the games that the authors played in and also that it does not always take the nuts to win a pot, it just takes a better hand then every one else (or the appearance that your hand is better). If you spend your time memorizing tables on playing certain hands in certain positions, you'll never really make a consistent living playing poker. The goal is to win and I find the most success comes from the type of poker player that can switch gears and vary his play on the drop of a dime based on the players your sitting with, hand and opponent. Here we will just simply go over certain hands and potential situation where it may make sense to play them.

Position - one thing you'll find in no limit holdem is that position is much more of a factor. With that said, I am not constantly acting on the basis of my position. I'm just as likely to play a hand like 9T suited under-the-gun (first position/worst position) as I am on the dealer button (last position/best position). The reason is because I don't get trapped and call unless I want. If someone raises me preflop a large amount, I can very easily fold. If lots of other people are in, I can call. I think position in limit holdem and no limit are exactly reversed. In limit holdem position is very important preflop, but after the flop it is of less importance. In no limit holdem position is less important preflop and very important post flop. What's the worst thing that can happen if I limp in with 56s in early position in no limit? A person could raise, and then I just fold and lose my few bucks. A few bucks is nothing in no limit. In no limit you can win a huge pot with any hand so calling a few dollars and then olding if it gets too expensive isn't as much of a concern. Moderation is the key, don't take this too far. You will lose if you play any two cards in any position and call any bet.

Trash Hands -  What are some Trash hands? T2s, 95, T6, 23, A2, etc. The ones that do particularly well are the T and J rag hands: J2, J3, J4, etc and T4, T5, T2. The reason these do well is because if there was no raise preflop then the opposition most likely has hands like QJ, KJ, JT, etc. When you flop two pair you can really make them pay. What you want to avoid though is catching one pair and thinking it is good (dont get greedy). If you have a crappy hand like J4 and the flop is J92, I would not put a bet out there in early position. The pot will be smaller anyway from a lack of raise anyway since no one raised preflop, so if you check and give it away even if you had the best hand, at least you got out cheap!


AA, KK And AK -  As said before these hands pretty much play out themselves, but do NOT fall in love. You can have fun with them if the situation calls for it. I'll mix up my play based on who I'm against (especially with Aces). When I get dealt Aces or Kings though, I'm always thinking in the back of my mind that I don't want to lose my whole stack with these. This is a huge weakness for new players. They get dealt AA or KK and then think they are guaranteed to win. That's not even close, after a while of playing you even start to contimplate folding those hands based on past stompings (not really but for a second you do). The best case scenario if you are dealt Aces is someone else has a hand they are raising with preflop. If that isn't the case I don't mess around with these hands. I'll play them straight forward and take my little pot. I'll raise preflop, then put a decent bet in on the flop and bigger on the turn. The goal here is if no one else has a big starting handto just win the pot and not lose a huge one. Remember one pair isn't that great and if you get tons of action after the flop then there is a chance your in trouble. I don't make the majority of my money with big hands like this. Don't be discouraged if you finally get Aces and then win only a little with them. One tactic that sometimes will win a big pot is to feign weakness on the flop with your Aces. For example, if the flop comes back Jack high and you have Aces, waiting for a while and then only betting half the pot sometimes gets people to check raise or raise a large amount because they put you on AK. Then you just call and then put them all-in on the turn card.

Middle Pairs (QQ, JJ, TT) - I think out of all the hands in no limit, these are the toughest to play well. The best advice I can give is don't lose all your chips calling all-in with Queens or Jacks preflop. You'd be surprised how often you'll have AK, KK or AA against QQ or JJ. Staying away from losing a bunch in that situation is a sign you're doing alright as a player. The tell tale sign of AA or KK is if you raise a good amount and then get re-raised or re-raised all-in by another opponent. If I'm looking at a re-raise a call will be more likely. If the person has a bunch of chips and goes all-in then I'm going to have to look hard at the situation, my opponent and try to look back at the action that player has been involved in. If they have been quite it could show a lack of patience after a while, or it could show complete control and the fact that that opponent has hit it, and is going to try to capitalize on their big hand.  How much it is going to cost me is another thing I look at in this situation. If I'm playing at a $100 game and it will just cost me $50 total then we will try it. Or if the person is a wild player that raises a lot of hands and you don't know if they have anything, let alone a good hand then go ahead and play poker. Also understand that calling the re-raise and seeing the flop is only the start. Most likely all the money will go in by way of the showdown.

Face Cards (AJ, KQ, KJ, QJ, QT etc) - My advice with these cards is to play them but with a little bit of caution. I play these cards with a mission. If I flop something big for example top two pair then of course I'll play more aggressively and try to win more but with just top pair I'm careful. I will bet but I'm not going to get married to the pot. What you want to try to stay away from is calling larger preflop raises with these, flopping top pair and paying off the better hand, or the opponent doing the raising. That's how you lose fast in no limit poker. I will limp in with these hands from early position but if someone raises a good amount, I'm out unless lots of other people are in. I'll need a really strong flop to continue. There is no way I'll limp in with KJs, call a preflop raise, and then call all the way down with top pair hoping I'm good. If you don't have the initiative in the hand (doing the betting), there is a reason.

Small Pocket Pairs - Of all the hands in no limit holdem, these are my favorites. They play themselves and when they hit, you are "set". My ideal situation is when I limp in with a small pocket pair in early position, get raised a decent amount from someone with a big pair or AK and then I call and flop trips. You'll hit your set/trips with an approx. odds of 1 in 8 times. I'll call preflop with these hands as long as the raise isn't too much and the person has enough chips in front of them (or there is not a re-raise).  You won't continue on the flop unless you hit (or you see a bluffing opportunity in which case your actual hand does not matter).

Suited Cards - In no limit holdem I don't make a big distinction between a suited connector (67s) and two suited cards (T6s). In either case you are going to need a big flop to make much with the hand. With these cards I'lltry to see a cheap flop in late position, sometimes in the front if they are decent cards. I particularly like the smaller suited cards like 35s or 46s. The reason is because if no one raised preflop it usually means someone is out there with a "weak ace" (A5, A6, A2, A3, etc). Sometimes you'll flop the straight and they will have two pair, in which case you can potentially take down a nice pot.

Staying Out Of Trouble - . To play no limit well you need to adjust your thinking. In no limit you want either a great hand or a great bluffing hand. You don't want a lot of junk in the middle due to the fact that a wrong move, false hope or over eager move can leave you with your pockets out.

Next we will look at small strategies and scenarios, along with different sites their offers and where you should go to make big money. Go get millions!!!